ANN ZELLE

Broken package of Keebler Ultra Low Fat Cookies with some cookies spilled out on a yellow surface.

Only two cameras have had such a mesmerizing influence on photographer Ann Zelle’s decorated career, the Diana and the Polaroid SX-70. Her two tools act as an extension of the body, recording and processing the world around her into her own unique visual language. She feels most comfortable in a square frame, for “The square format contains an aggressive space which swells at the center and pushes against the edges. It can set up a dynamic tension, but it can also make the image flow sensuously within the bounds of the frame.” (Zelle). We invite you to step inside Ann Zelle’s inquisitive and distorted frame as we discuss work from her previous exhibition “Remember When…” held at The Gallery @ Dot Editions in 2020.

A person lying on a sofa with one leg hanging off, wearing dark jeans, argyle socks, and white Adidas sneakers, on a patterned carpet.
Person wearing shiny red high-heeled boots and black satin pants, standing on a brown carpet in front of a door with a brown doormat.
Close-up of a person's legs wearing light blue tights, brown shoes with decorative stitching, and a long pair of jeans with cuffs, standing on a red patterned rug.

Born in 1943, Ann E. Zelle is a retired professor from American University’s School of Communication, where she directed the photography program for two decades, from 1982 to 2002. Her teaching career also included positions at Northern Virginia Community College and the Smithsonian Institution. Prior to her work in academia, Zelle spent the 1960s and early ’70s working in museum education and administration. During that time, she contributed to institutions such as the Illinois State Museum, the Newark Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art and ART & SOUL in Chicago, as well as the International Council of Museums under UNESCO. Her work has been shown both nationally and internationally. She now resides in WNC where she focuses on her ceramic sculpture. 

A pregnant woman cradles her belly, with a focus on her rounded stomach and arms, in a sepia-toned photograph.
A young girl doing a handstand on grass, with her head upside down and hair hanging toward the ground, near a tree with foliage, in black and white.

In the early years of her career, Ann gained recognition in the Washington, DC area for her innovative work with alternative photographic processes. Her use of Diana and Polaroid cameras earned accolades from both brands and was featured in exhibitions across the country. In the late 1960s, her path led her to New Jersey and Chicago, where she focused on bridging museums with minority and underrepresented communities, most notably by helping to establish Art and Soul, a neighborhood arts workshop in Lawndale, Chicago. Throughout her life, Ann has remained deeply committed to pushing the boundaries of her medium, continually evolving and exploring new ways to express her artistic vision.

Close-up of a person's lips with dark hair in the background, in black and white.
Four black and white photographs of a woman lying on a sofa, arranged on a white background. Each photo has slight variations and framing details.

Hand-brushed platinum palladium print

REMEMBER WHEN…

A poster advertising a photography exhibition by Ann Zelle, featuring vintage prints and Polaroids from 1976-1984. The poster includes a black-and-white Polaroid photo of a person doing a handstand outdoors, with their head upside down and legs extended upward, surrounded by trees and grass.

Remember When… includes work utilizing nineteenth century hand-applied palladium process and twentieth century Polaroid instant prints. The work in this exhibition, has a nostalgic, almost personal, feel; one that draws, you into each scene triggering half memories and a desire to pause and, reminisce on a time and, place that once was. It was thus necessary to create an, environment that allows the viewer to do so. Pulling from the work itself, we employed deep tones and soft lighting with each image suspended in a bright white allowing the viewer to commit full attention to each piece, described by Ann as “intimate, window-like views into scenes that feel like secrets.” In so doing it was our hope to create a personal connection between viewer and work as well as an admiration for a photographer who so beautifully captured these lost scenes of Yesteryear.

An art gallery with dark gray walls displaying framed artwork, overhead track lighting illuminating the pieces, and a narrow hallway leading to more artwork.
Gallery wall displaying framed artwork with light on the pictures, featuring abstract and colorful designs, in a dimly lit art museum or gallery.
A person sitting on a brown sofa with socks, with their upper body exposed, but their face is not visible.
Photo of a person lying down on a patterned surface, wearing black clothing with a pink ribbon tied around their waist.
Multiple piles of playing cards arranged on a blue surface with some decks of cards face down at the top.
Close-up of the feet of women wearing high heels and light blue dresses, standing on stage with a microphone and American flag in the background.
Photograph of a person with their upper body outside the frame, wearing dark jeans and sneakers, sitting on a brown couch, with a patterned rug underneath.
Person lying down on a blanket with a red ribbon tied around the waist, wearing dark shiny leggings.
Three framed photographs displayed on a wall, each with a dark frame and white matte, illuminated by single spotlights.
A pink tulip flower with a green stem against a dark background.
A vintage poster with a silhouette of a topless woman in a provocative pose, red and beige background with geometric shapes, and a row of circles along the left edge.
Close-up of a person laying in bed with a white sheet, wearing a maroon shirt and a puffy, pink quilt with red floral and vine patterns.
Three framed photographs displayed in a white frame, featuring abstract blue and black patterns and an image of a salamander or newt.
Six framed photographs of legs and feet, arranged in two rows on a gray gallery wall.
A black handgun resting on a person's bare thigh and knee.
Black and white photo of a woman resting her head on her arms, which are folded on a surface, next to a striped pillow.
A yellow chair with a red padded seat, partially visible, is on a woven circular rug. There are green plants surrounding the scene, with some leaves hanging over the chair. Part of a blue and beige circular object, likely a table, is at the bottom of
A tabby cat lying on its side with its back to the camera, partially obscured by a piece of furniture or fabric.
Close-up of a woman wearing a navy blue dress with white polka dots, revealing cleavage, framed in a white border.
Close-up view of a metallic grill or vent with vertical and horizontal bars forming a grid pattern.
Close-up of a metallic, reflective surface with a part of a logo or emblem in yellow and black, featuring a stylized animal figure, possibly a wolf, on a dark background.
A black and white photograph of a woman standing in a grassy field, leaning on a mop or broom, dressed in a skirt and a top with short sleeves, with houses visible in the background.

DOT EDITIONS X ANN ZELLE

When The Gallery @ Dot Editions opened its doors, one of the first big projects we were excited to take on was working with photographer Ann Zelle to bring her exhibition Remember When… to life. Ann came to us with a rich archive of work from the 1970s, Diana Camera prints and Polaroid SX-70s that hadn’t been shown in nearly forty years. Our team worked closely with her to sort through the images, prepare them for exhibition, and create a presentation that honored both the technical experimentation and the personal feel of her work.

From the start, it was clear this wasn’t just about putting pictures on the wall. Ann’s photographs carry a sense of intimacy and nostalgia, so our goal was to design a space that allowed viewers to step into that world. We collaborated with Ann on selecting the right pieces, refined the printing and mounting process, and set the tone of the gallery with soft lighting and careful spacing so that each image could stand on its own, while still feeling part of a larger story. The result was a show that felt both personal and timeless. Ann’s work sparked conversations, memories, and reflections with everyone who walked through the gallery, which is exactly the kind of connection The Gallery @ Dot Editions was created to foster.

Person sorting through black-and-white photographs on a table.
An elderly woman with glasses and a blue plaid shirt smiling while arranging photographs on a table, with a young man observing in the background.
Two people examining printed photographs on a table in an indoor setting. One person wears a blue plaid shirt and the other a gray shirt. The photographs include various subjects, such as animals and landscapes.