Sara J. Winston is an artist based in the Hudson Valley region of New York. She works with photographs, text, and the book form to describe and respond to chronic illness and its impact on her body, mind, family, and memory. Sara is the author of 'A Lick and a Promise', published in 2017 by Candor Arts (Chicago, IL) and 'Homesick', published in 2015 by Zatara Press (Richmond, VA). She has contributed work to several publications, among them 'Return to the Field', published in 2021 by Wendy’s Subway (Brooklyn, NY). Sara works as the Photography Program Coordinator at Bard College, is on the faculty of the Penumbra Foundation Long Term Photobook Program, and is a contributor to Lenscratch and the Photo Eye Blog. Sara earned her MFA from Columbia College Chicago in 2014, and has book projects forthcoming with Skylark Editions (Chicago, IL), Molto Molto (Brighton, UK), National Monument Press (Oakland, CA), Push Pull Editions (Corvallis, OR), and For the Birds Trapped in Airports (Los Angeles, CA).
Published on March 19th, 2023. Artist responses collected in months previous.
What are you fascinated with right now?
I continue to be fascinated by the power of sharing what makes us most vulnerable as a way to connect with those around us. I feel incredibly vulnerable and powerless when I am in the infusion suite. However, spending the time there as a photographer gives me back a speck of power in the dynamic. When other patients see the tripod they want to talk. We end up talking about things like the ailments that have brought us to the hospital.
What advice would you give your younger artist self?
You feel like you don’t have enough time now? You will have much less time in the future. Please, get to work!
What are your tools for creative resilience these days? Do you have any methods to stay positive when life becomes difficult and perhaps when you have limited time to create?
For creative resilience I’ve started thinking about a few different things. I’ve spent some time identifying which areas of my practice have been particularly draining and have been trying to avoid those habits. I’ve expanded my practice to use email as a creative tool–I am currently working on a publication that looks at the creative potential of correspondence as art. I have a different camera for nearly every photography book I am working on. When I get worn out or overwhelmed by one of those ideas/cameras, I switch to a different one. Using a different tool allows me to stretch a different muscle in my brain without getting totally stuck.
What is your dreamy vision for your creative career and art practice three years from now?
Here are some of my goals for 3 years from now: I hope to have a stronger relationship with those in my community; I hope to be applying for University teaching jobs; I hope to have a solo exhibition just behind me or just coming up; I hope to be applying for competitive grant opportunities; I hope to be called upon to do more editorial work.
How are you being kind to yourself as you look towards realizing your vision for your art career?
I'm finally remembering to drink more water! I am realizing that everything takes a lot of time and that is perfect. I love the idea that "Photography + time = something else" and I think of that frequently. My mentor is my best friend and confidant. When I'm overwhelmed I turn to her and it has been a gift that she does the same with me. Kindness to oneself is so important. I hope I can remember that moving forward.
What are you fascinated with right now?
I continue to be fascinated by the power of sharing what makes us most vulnerable as a way to connect with those around us. I feel incredibly vulnerable and powerless when I am in the infusion suite. However, spending the time there as a photographer gives me back a speck of power in the dynamic. When other patients see the tripod they want to talk. We end up talking about things like the ailments that have brought us to the hospital.
What advice would you give your younger artist self?
You feel like you don’t have enough time now? You will have much less time in the future. Please, get to work!
What are your tools for creative resilience these days? Do you have any methods to stay positive when life becomes difficult and perhaps when you have limited time to create?
For creative resilience I’ve started thinking about a few different things. I’ve spent some time identifying which areas of my practice have been particularly draining and have been trying to avoid those habits. I’ve expanded my practice to use email as a creative tool–I am currently working on a publication that looks at the creative potential of correspondence as art. I have a different camera for nearly every photography book I am working on. When I get worn out or overwhelmed by one of those ideas/cameras, I switch to a different one. Using a different tool allows me to stretch a different muscle in my brain without getting totally stuck.
What is your dreamy vision for your creative career and art practice three years from now?
Here are some of my goals for 3 years from now: I hope to have a stronger relationship with those in my community; I hope to be applying for University teaching jobs; I hope to have a solo exhibition just behind me or just coming up; I hope to be applying for competitive grant opportunities; I hope to be called upon to do more editorial work.
How are you being kind to yourself as you look towards realizing your vision for your art career?
I'm finally remembering to drink more water! I am realizing that everything takes a lot of time and that is perfect. I love the idea that "Photography + time = something else" and I think of that frequently. My mentor is my best friend and confidant. When I'm overwhelmed I turn to her and it has been a gift that she does the same with me. Kindness to oneself is so important. I hope I can remember that moving forward.
Find Sara J. Winston on Instagram