Rhythmic Arrangements: Perognathus: Male Nude and Specimens
Maker
Schoenfeld, Diana
American
Date1978
MediumGelatin silver print
Dimensionsimage: 4 3/4 in x 6 3/4 in; paper: 8 in x 10 in
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1980:100
About the ArtistDiana Schoenfeld describes her photography practice as self-reflective and poetic. Her work in the collection of the Museum of Contemporary Photography represents selections from her Rhythmic Arrangements series. These gold-toned gelatin silver prints are composed of meticulously arranged, pseudo-scientific specimens of dead birds, beetles, desiccated plants, and bones. The compositions balance pathos with detached analysis, evoking a sense of loss and introspective contemplation.Schoenfeld completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts at Georgia State University (1972) and an MA in Studio Art and Photography (1974) and MFA in the History and Practice of Photography (1984) from the University of New Mexico. Solo exhibitions include Schoolhouse Odyssey: Exploring Remote Location Ghost Schools and Voices from the Past (2011) at the Morris Graves Museum of Art in Eureka, CA. Exhibition catalogs include Symbol and Surrogate, the Picture Within (University of Hawaii Art Gallery, 1989). She has held numerous teaching positions around the country. Schoenfeld lives and works as a photographer and arts educator in California.
