The Lost Nation Photographs - The Motley Cow, Iowa City, Iowa

My black and white gelatin silver photos are UP. The space they are living in is at the Motley Cow - a fine dining experience in Iowa City. This body of work dates from the early 1990s to 2005. All photographs are hand-printed in my darkroom on fiber paper and are archivally matted --- and are for sale. Please contact me for more information.

sandy@sandydyas.com -- www.sandydyas.com

Hanno Hardt, Professor, Photographer, Scholar

Tonight I found out that my friend Hanno Hardt passed away on October 11th. I am profoundly saddened by this news. Hanno was an inspiration to me while a student at the University of Iowa. Hans Breder and Hanno were friends and I was in Hans' Intermedia program.

Hanno Hardt loved black and white documentary photography. He loved Iowa. "A Time in Iowa" is a book he self-published in 2007. He has self-published a great number of photography books on Blurb.

I still have my notes from his class. We talked about the media. Film, photography, TV. My paper was about Woody Allen and all the controversies surrounding him at that time. I still have that paper. Later, Hanno served as a member on my MFA committee. I appreciated his support of my work.

Over the years, we stayed loosely connected. He wrote an invitation for me to teach and research at the University of Ljubljana last year and again this year. Hanno wanted me to help assist him teach photography and video at the university. He believed in me and in my work as an artist. Hanno Hardt was an incredibly smart and creative thinking man. He was also very generous and kind. I hoped I would see him again...this time in Slovenia.

There will be a memorial for him at the MILL in Iowa City on November 4th from 4pm - 7pm.

IOWA CITY WARRIORS - BLOG by Maria Vorhis

I had the pleasure to sit and chat with Maria Vorhis last weekend. We sat outside the Englert Theatre on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. She attended the Englert Theatre panel discussion about being an artist here in the Iowa City area. Here is her interview with me - IOWA CITY WARRIORS.

RIVERSIDE THEATRE - IOWA CITY

Showing some new and old work at Riverside Theatre - it is up now until early October. The photographs and collages all focus on children and being a mother. Katie Roche and her daughter Stella are featured as well as Susan with the Red Tomato - aka Caroline Louise. My photographs are intended to compliment the production FEET FIRST IN THE WATER WITH A BABY IN MY TEETH - Written and Performed by Megan Gogerty; Directed by Alexis Chamow September 9 - October 2, 2011

Katie Roche and Stella

In early March 2011, Katie Roche and her daughter Stella agreed to work with me to make new portraits. I wanted to photograph Katie again...this time she was/is still....pregnant. The stark landscape in the backyard of their home in Iowa City became an important part of this portrait. Life is coming...it is nearly spring.... Portraits are always a collaboration for me. It was a brief shoot -- life moves so quickly -- I always feel very lucky I am invited into someone's home to make their portrait. Thank you Katie and Stella. New pictures to be included in my project called "Lost in the Midwest".

Francisco Antonio Romero, near Iowa City, Iowa

Francisco Antonio Romero agreed to have his portrait taken just a few weeks ago. Liz Preciado and I were outside of Iowa City doing a portrait shoot of Liz and I was struck by "Frankie's" (as he is called) presence. Frankie is originally from New Mexico and has been living near Iowa City for a few years I think.

Liz Preciado - Lost in the Midwest

I had the honor and fun of photographing LIZ PRECIADO last week. We have known each other for well over ten years. She is my newest participant in my project LOST in the MIDWEST.

David Zollo Photos

Pieta Brown & Skyrocket

New little video of Pieta and her amazing Skyrocket band at the Mill in Iowa City. My hope is to make more little videos - got a new camera and final cut express so here we go...