Suzanne Metzel
I am a lifelong resident of Evanston (3rd generation). At the Evanston Art Center I studied drawing, watercolor and eventually settled on printmaking until I became pregnant and was evicted from the acid bath closet. A full time career in law and small children left little time for art until I picked up my first camera to take pictures of my young rhythmic gymnast daughter more than 20 years ago. Within a year I bought a medium format camera, set up a makeshift darkroom and was accepted into my first juried show at ARC Gallery. My subjects were close at hand: family, dogs, home until that young child became a more accomplished gymnast and began to travel to international competitions. Her very first trip abroad placed me on the shores of Lake Baikal in southern Siberia. Travel quickly became a source of inspiration.
Initially my work was primarily with film and I enjoyed exploring experimental techniques like lith, which produces results reminiscent of my printmaking work. I have since embraced the digital world, in part, because it allows me to resume my first love, printmaking. Through the magic of UV light and photopolymer plates I have been able to use photographic images to produce photopolymer gravure images on an etching press. I am a founding member and board member of the Perspective Gallery in Evanston, IL.
Email: avajacko@aol.com
Shop Evanston Made: Suzanne Metzel Photography