ANN ZELLE
ANN ZELLE: A RETROSPECTIVE
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.
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.
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.
Hand-brushed platinum palladium print
REMEMBER WHEN…
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.
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.
