Elizabeth W Parker

Originally from Janesville, WI I currently divide most of my time between Puerto Rico (where I live with my husband and where I raised my children) and Wisconsin - which will always be my spiritual home.

I come from a very artistic family - almost everyone paints, draws, photographs, crafts, sculpts, throws and more (from generations back!) - so it isn't strange that my own artistic career began with painting, sculpting and photography.  I majored in Art History, at Smith College (Northampton, MA).

I spent four years in Italy after my college graduation participating in art shows and exhibitions.  When I moved back to NYC in 1981, I exhibited and participated in a cooperative art gallery.

Then came a lot of years in which art was back burnered to drawing for little boys and trying to spark some creativity in the next generation of my family!

Once the kids were launched, my husband and I returned to photography as part of our business (mail order catalog).  Embracing the new technology, our interest blossomed into a full blown, all out interest in digital photography.  We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in Oaxaca, Mexico  with David Alan Harvey, Eniac Martinez, Raul Touzon and the Oaxaca Wonders!

I continue to travel, study, and exhibit.  My greatest accomplishment to date is having my children ask for my images to put in their apartments!  Is there really any tougher critic than ones own children?

Just a brief aside about "The Oaxaca Wonders."  I think it is possible a rare event that one can go on a trip and meet people with whom one can identify so closely, that a real and lasting friendship grows out of a shared love of photography.  That is the Oaxaca Wonders!  We continue to travel and study photography together, learning from each other and from our teachers.  Some day I hope to see this friendship on display as an exhibit of the photographs of the group!  Meanwhile, we continue to travel and shoot together.