Photographer Flora Zolin finds art in the faces of people. miamiartzine.com spoke to her about her work and her upcoming exhibit.
- Name: Flora Zolin.
- City: Delray Beach, Florida.
- Birthplace: New York City.
- Artistic Medium: Photography.
- Upcoming Exhibit: "Faces of Cuba" opens Friday, Feb. 24 Galeria Adelmo, 1165 S.W. Sicth Street, Little Havana, Miami, Florida
How did you get started?
When I was a child, I got a Brownie Box Camera. It was my treasure and I loved taking pictures of my family and neighborhood. In 2010, I got a Nikon DSLR camera and studied photography at the Delray Center for the Arts. This was the beginning of my passion for photography on a level, which I never knew before. It was in these classes that I was encouraged by my teacher/mentor to concentrate on portrait photography. Since then, I have been capturing the hearts and souls of people.
Who or what are your influences?
In New York, I studied psychology and worked as an art therapist in Lenox Hill Hospital. When I retired to Florida, I missed the opportunity to interact with people on a deeper level, so I decided to merge my childhood passion with my skills and this became my new profession.
What inspires your work?
I love people, love reading their faces and their interaction with each other. It is not uncommon for me to stop people in the street or in restaurants and ask to take their pictures. My travels have given me an extraordinary opportunity to meet interesting people, each unique in his or her own way.
How does Miami/South Florida influence your work?
South Florida attracts a large diverse population, from local Floridians, snow birds from the north, tourists from Europe, South America and all over the world, which creates a great environment for me to take photos of a variety of people.
How would you describe your work?
Miami provides for me an opportunity to photograph unique people and different cultures. For example, my last exhibit was of transgendered people I met in Miami. Although my subjects may be diverse, the commonality of my work has earned me the title "The Portrait Lady."
What was your “aha” moment where you knew that you had “arrived” as an artist?
Several years ago, I was contacted by a writer for an art magazine who saw my photographs on display in several venues throughout South Florida. When she asked to interview me, well, that was my “aha” moment.
Flora Zolin's exhibit "Faces of Cuba" is at Galeria Adelmo, Feb. 24 through March 27, 2017 at the gallery, 1165 S.W. 6th Street, Miami, Florida
What has been the most unusual reaction to your work from the public?
When I was in Cuba taking pictures of people on the street, I showed them their images on the screen of my camera—their reactions ranged from joy and laughter to disbelief because many had never seen their own reflections.
What would you like to achieve as an artist?
The greatest satisfaction I get in my work is when someone is viewing my photos and have their own “aha” moment and see things differently than they did before whether based on learning about history, sociology, culture, etc. Regardless of the reason for their “aha” moment, I want them to go home seeing the world through open eyes.
Where can we see your work?
My photography exhibition “Faces of Cuba” will open at Galeria Adelmo, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, from 6 to 10 p.m. and runs through March 27, 2017. 1165 S.W. Sixth Street, Miami, Florida 33130. Phone the gallery in Little Havana at 305-549-7200. My website is florazolin.com
