Artist to Watch: Erinn Springer
© Erinn Springer
Interviewed by Joe Cuccio
Erinn Springer is a photographer based between Wisconsin and New York. Embracing the character of rural life, her work is inspired by the cycles of the land, memory, and mortality. Her work has been featured in and commissioned by The New York Times, The New Yorker, Die Zeit, M Le Monde, Vogue, among others. Erinn’s first monograph, "Dormant Season," was published in the fall of 2023 with Charcoal Press.
© Erinn Springer
Musee Magazine: What is one of the most visually informative experiences from your adolescence that you have held onto as you have grown into your life as an image maker?
Erinn: Beyond visuals, I often recall the sensory experiences of being a kid and feeling the emotions of my environment. We had an old, out-of-tune, piano in our basement. I’d sit in the hallway around the corner, surrounded by the must of basement carpet while my mom played repetitions of Fur Elise. The dissonant chords were the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard. I often think about the vibration and emotions that moved through my body. I try to think about photos the same way.
© Erinn Springer
Musee Magazine: How do you find cycles of land and life to make their way into your work?
Erinn: They were always a part of my life and as my life became the subject of my work, I couldn't imagine leaving out the very important experience of the seasons. In many ways, I think of the landscape as a protagonist in my work. We are all an extension of the natural world, but our environment really dictates a lot of how we move, think, and feel.
© Erinn Springer
Musee Magazine: When did you know your project Dormant Season was complete?
Erinn: After I photographed a floor… ha. There was water spilled across dusted wooden floorboards and two shimmering coins dotting the frame. It felt like a metaphoric wishing well, symbolizing the beginnings of new ideas and the next chapter. I’m sure my mind was just playing games, but that silly logic was what I needed to feel ready for the next phase of the work, which was turning it into a physical book.
© Erinn Springer
Erinn Springer has chosen to keep her 2024 plans close to her heart at this time. Nonetheless, we are excited about the bright future in store for this incredible artist. Springer will continue to build upon her well-established position in the world of photography as she creates more bodies of work and collaborates with some of the biggest publications across the world.
© Erinn Springer
