For A List Of The Featured Artists 2007

For a List Of The Featured Artists 2006
 

A very exciting returning artist in the Trails this year is Margot Wholey, a superb photographer. Margo moved to Mariposa with her family 3 years ago.   She started her interest in photography with documentary photos over 25 years ago by sneaking her parents Polaroid camera out of the house. She finally got her own camera and used it toward her degree in Photojournalism. After college she purchased a “round the world ticket” and traveled around the world for one year, primarily in Asia. Since that time, Margot’s daughter and husband have traveled with her to Thailand, Nepal, India, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Costa Rica.

After settling into a career she was a newspaper photographer, a ski photographer, a river guide and photographer. Margot found that photographing places off the beaten path, where she could intimately experience local cultures and environments, inspired her most. She says,” I like to spend a lot of time in one area so I can really get to know the rhythms of the place. My inspiration is drawn from establishing a connectedness in the chaos, when everything slows down to the exact moment of truly being present. Whether it is trekking in Peru or swimming in the Merced River, I always try to artistically portray a story or produce a timeless feeling in my images.”

Margot uses handmade papers from around the world in framing her photographs instead of the traditional white matt.  The materials for the papers are primarily from the Philippines, Thailand, Nepal and India and are colorful and texturous. She says, “Using these papers supports women’s cottage industries from the smallest of villages; as well as promoting tree-free sustainable harvesting and tradition papermaking techniques.”

Margot’s photographs with the unique handmade papers, and the clever choices of frames makes each piece a unique work of art. It is a must see stop along the Trails.