In this highlight of the Atelier 33 exhibition, we interviewed Julia Arstorp about her collection Invisible Threads, on display in the Griffin Main Gallery until March 26, 2021. This series captures the deeply personal moments shared between the artist and her daughter while revisiting memories from her family’s past.

Which of these images was the impetus for this series? How did it inform how you completed the series?

I would say it’s the image of my daughter wearing a fur coat that belonged to my mother from the early 60’s. I very much feel this project was a collaborative effort with my daughter. I love how that photograph has the imprint of three generations and results in such a joyful image.

How has your photography changed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic? Has the Atelier been a motivator to persevere through these trying times?

Before COVID I never took self portraits but with social distancing I had to
place myself in front of the camera which, at first, was uncomfortable.
Ultimately, I found that it added to the project and brought me a different
perspective on my work. I also found that focusing on a project about
family history helped to anchor me during these stressful times. And yes,
the Atelier was a key motivator to keep me on track.

How has your Atelier work helped you to keep the family tradition alive of passing down stories to each generation?

I grew up on stories told by my grandmother and mother. And while clearing out my mother’s house, we found boxes that held pieces of my family history – everything form scrapbooks and letters to my great grandfathers spectacles and my great grandmothers wedding dress. This project allowed me the time to work on a body of work about these family memories and stories and, equally important, share the process with my daughter.

I hope my work speaks to the connections and identity we find through childhood memories and family stories. The blending of past and present that helps us see we’re part of an ongoing story. 

Tell us what is next for you creatively.

I really see myself as both a photographer and a printer. I’ll continue working on new prints – mostly platinum palladium and cyanotype. I’ll also continue documenting the neighborhood and small knit community my family has lived in these past 30 years and continue focusing on family stories.

Visit Julia Arstorp’s website and check out her Instagram, @JuliaArstorp to see more of her work.