By David Delgado
Motlow Buzz Contributing
Writer
MURFREESBORO,
Tenn. – Portrait and landscape Photographer Thomas Sanders spoke to students
and faculty at Middle Tennessee State University on Nov. 9, telling them that “Photographing
and honoring the veterans act as a an opportunity for them to tell their story.”
Sanders
has received national notoriety for a touring exhibition of photos called “American
Heroes: Portraits of Service.” He traveled the country photographing and
interviewing hundreds of veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the
Vietnam War.
More
than 50 students and faculty gathered in the BAS State Farm Room at 6:30 p.m.
to hear Sanders describe his war-related work and share some of the stories of
the veterans he photographed. Storytelling has always been part of Sanders’
life. He was deeply inspired by his grandfather, who also dedicated his life
and career to photography.
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“My grandfather was
a professional photographer for part of his life,” said Sanders. “Storytelling
has been part of my whole life because of him.”
Sanders has used a
good portion of his work to honor World War II veterans. Sanders used
PowerPoint to show present-day images of the vets he photographed. He shared moving
stories if soldiers provided them. One of the first World War II Vets he
interviewed, Randel Paris, pulled down his pants to show a scar in his lower
abdomen. He received the scar during a battle in Italy. He witnessed his accompanying
commander triggering an S-mine and dying instantly. During the battle, Randel triggered
an S-mine himself. The shrapnel hit his stomach and his intestines came out. He
took his canteen belt and cinched it around his stomach to survive.
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A place where
Sanders draws inspiration comes from fellow photographers Jeff Wall and Pieter
Hugo. When the lecture was done, Sanders opened himself up for questions about
his life and work. Several members of the audience asked questions.
When asked what
adversities he sometimes faces, the artist said, “Challenges I face would be
language barriers, and sometimes I would photograph the vets and ask them if
they wanted to do an interview. Sometimes they did not.”
He added that he
enjoys photographing current soldiers as well and would love to do a book on
all of the wars.
Attendees
were invited to visit the Baldwin Photographic Gallery at the College of Media
and Entertainment to see the photos featured in his PowerPoint presentation. Many
students snapped pictures while admiring the art with the people who organized
the event. There was also a line to speak to Sanders and get autographs.
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“The Baldwin Photographic Gallery
hosts up to four exhibitions each academic year,” said event organizer Jackie
Heigle, curator and associate professor of photography. “It is important for
the students to experience exhibitions of photographic works on and off campus,
and to hear the stories of these ‘real world’ photographers who might inspire
the students more directly to be aware of the challenges and the rewards of
hard work, business acumen, and personal style."
“I think he is a very interesting photographer who has done
well in the span for himself,” said Andrew Miller, an MTSU student who attended
the event. “I think the pieces are wonderful and very high quality. I love the
expressions and the life you can feel coming from them. I hope this is a
tribute that can live on to honor and memorialize these people and their place
in history. For better or for worse, documenting history is important from an
event standpoint as well as an individual.”
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| Photo by David Delgado |
To stay connected and learn about
other events that are going on at MTSU, including the Photography Department, visit
http://www.mtsu.edu/whatsup/
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