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AndMarkswifeSybilalsoaphotographerwasdoingalotofworkwithcoloratthetime.ShewasinvestigatingandendedupwritingabookaboutphotographsintheUTcollectionbyanitinerantphotographer.ShehadstartedintheAmericanStudiesprogram.ShewasagoodfriendandconvincedmetotakeclassesbecauseIcouldelectiveclassesinmyMFAprogram.SoItookacoupleofclassesinAmericanStudieswithfolksthatweredealingwithphotography.AndsoatthesametimeIwasmakingtheseimpressionisticimagesIwasmakingtheseculturalimagestakingthe8x10viewcameraoutphotographingwithlargecolornegatives.Istillhaveallthat.ButIwasntdoinganythingwithitatthetime.Sothattookmethroughgraduateschool.MORSoyounishgraduateschoolandtheworldiswaitingforyou.WhatdidyoudecidetodoWWTherewerenojobstheresoIcamebacktoNewYork.GotajobinacamerastoresoIcouldmakesomemoney.AndbythenIwasmarried.MywifesfamilyhadanapartmentinBrooklynthattheycouldgiveusreallycheapsowewerekindofset.Wecouldgobacktoacheapapartment.Andwedidthatforfiveorsixyearsnofouryears.Itseemedlonger.MORAndyouretakingphotographsthewholetimeWWYestakingphotographsthewholetimemeetingpeopleexhibitingatthenowdefunctThirdEyeGalleryandatMidtownYPhotographyGallery.MichaelSpanowasdirectorandhewasrealsupportive.AndIwasinacamerastorewhereallthesereallyinterestingphotographerscamein.TimothyGreenfield-SanderswascominginandtheseguysthatwereprintingforexhibitionsattheMetyouknowprintingJamesVanDerZeeprints.Theycameinbecausewespecializedinphotographicpaperandthingslikethatmoresothansomeotherplaces.MORYouremeetinginterestingpeopleintheeld.WWYesinterestingpeoplesomeIknewandmeetingsomothers.RosalindFoxSolomonstillhavesomeautographedthings.AllofthatandImstartingtoexhibit.ImetDeborahWillisartistcuratorauthoreducatorbecauseinterestinglyoneofthefacultyatUTalsocamefromtheNortheastcamefromNewYorkandshewenttoschoolwithDebatPratt.AndwhenIwascomingbackEllenWallensteinsaidtomeOhyouregoingbacktoNewYork.MyfriendDebWilliswhoIwasinthegraduateprogramwithisattheSchomburgCenterforResearchinBlackCulture.Youshouldshowheryourwork.AndsoIcalledherandshesaidSurecomeonup.Fromthenwebecamefriendsandshebecamesupportiveofmyworkandhasincludedmeinanumberofbooksandshowsandthingslikethat.TheresstillapiecethatsoutthereinthePosingBeautyshowthatsbeentravelingaroundforever.AndIwasoneofonlytwoorthreecontemporaryphotographersgotincludedinthebookthatsheandBarbaraKrauthamerdidcalledEnvisioningEmancipationBlackAmericansandtheEndofSlavery.Thatsbeenagreatproductiverelationship.Shealsointroducedmetootherpeople.SothroughDebIwentofftomeetpeoplelikeDannyDawsonphotographerwhoImstillintouchwithImetJanetBordengalleristMarvinHiefermanphotographerandPeterMacGillgallerist.Andthereskindofagaprightthere.WhenIwasingraduateschoolIsuddenlyrealizedthatthelifesoundergraduateschooleverybodywasanadjunctfacultymemberatVisualArts.Idontthinktherewereanyfulltimefaculty.Sothatdidntseemsoattractive.MORRightpiecingtogether5or6jobs.WWButthatshowtheywereabletorunthatschool.ButinTexasheresMarkandhesgotthisfulltimejobandhesgottimetodohisworkandthatskindofdesirable.SoIcamebackreallywiththatinmind.IdidntgotoTexasandIdidntgointoagraduateprogramthinkingthatIwouldcomeouttoteach.Ididntevensortofconceptualizethatthatwouldbeanoutcomeassomanystudentsdotoday.SomanystudentsthinkifIgetmyMFAIllbeabletoteach.IwaslikethatsoundsgoodIlldothat.