Melissa Springer
Encyclopedia
Melissa Springer is an American photojournalist whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Aperture
, Elle
, Forbes
, Harper's Bazaar
, The New York Times Magazine
, Los Angeles Times Magazine
, Southern Living
, The Village Voice
and House & Garden
.
Springer was one of the first photojournalists to document the AIDS
epidemic with her series entitled "Michael."
Springer was the inaugural artist for Agnes
, a photography gallery specializing in social awareness in Birmingham, Alabama
. This first show was "Julia Tutwiler Prison Series" and portrayed the struggles and class system of an Alabama prison for women. For these photos, Springer spent time in prison listening to the inmates' stories. This work was part of a CNN
interview about the Prison and was also featured in Elle magazine.
In "The South by Its Photographers" Springer's work was included with other Southern artists including Shelby Lee Adams
, William Christenberry
, and Jack Spencer
. The exhibit traveled from the Birmingham Museum of Art
in Birmingham, Alabama to Columbia Museum of Art
in Columbia, South Carolina
; and the Louisiana Center for Arts and Sciences in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
. The exhibit also appeared as a book.
In "Voices Rising: Alabama Women at the Millennium", Springer's work was selected by the Montgomery Museum of Art along with Pinky Bass
and others. This show was funded by National Museum of Women in the Arts
(NMWA).
Springer and Jim Neel photographed rural worshipers for Salvation on Sand Mountain.
Springer has published several books, taught seminars at the International Center of Photography, appeared on CNN
and Lifetime Television
, and has had work appear in dozens of publications, including the New York Times, Village Voice, Elle
, and Harper’s Bazaar.
Springer is a faculty member of the International Center of Photography
in NYC.
Aperture (magazine)
Aperture is a quarterly photography magazine and a book publisher based in New York, New York. The magazine is published by Aperture Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to fine art photography.-Magazine:...
, Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
, Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
, Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
, The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine is a Sunday magazine supplement included with the Sunday edition of The New York Times. It is host to feature articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors...
, Los Angeles Times Magazine
Los Angeles Times Magazine
The Los Angeles Times Magazine is a monthly magazine which supplements the Sunday edition of the Los Angeles Times newspaper on the first Sunday of the month...
, Southern Living
Southern Living
Southern Living is a widely read lifestyle magazine aimed at readers in the Southern United States featuring recipes, house plans, and information about Southern culture and travel...
, The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
and House & Garden
House & Garden (magazine)
House & Garden was an American shelter magazine published by Condé Nast Publications that focused on interior design, entertaining, and gardening....
.
Springer was one of the first photojournalists to document the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
epidemic with her series entitled "Michael."
Springer was the inaugural artist for Agnes
Agnes (gallery)
Agnes was a Birmingham, Alabama photography gallery from 1993 to 2001. Shawn Boley, Jon Coffelt and Jan Hughes opened the gallery with the mission of attempting to raise awareness of social issues — such as cancer, AIDS, death and dying, the environment, homelessness, ethics, racism,...
, a photography gallery specializing in social awareness in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. This first show was "Julia Tutwiler Prison Series" and portrayed the struggles and class system of an Alabama prison for women. For these photos, Springer spent time in prison listening to the inmates' stories. This work was part of a CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
interview about the Prison and was also featured in Elle magazine.
In "The South by Its Photographers" Springer's work was included with other Southern artists including Shelby Lee Adams
Shelby Lee Adams
Shelby Lee Adams is an American environmental portrait photographer and artist best known for his images of Appalachian family life.-Life and career:...
, William Christenberry
William Christenberry
William Christenberry is a photographer, painter, and sculptor who works with personal and somewhat mythical themes growing out of his childhood experiences in Hale County, Alabama....
, and Jack Spencer
Jack Spencer
Jack Spencer is a self-taught American photographer.Spencer was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi and his first love was music, performing in rock bands making a recording. He is probably best known for his series, Native Soil that featured deep sepia tones combined with deep-South imagery...
. The exhibit traveled from the Birmingham Museum of Art
Birmingham Museum of Art
Founded in 1951, the Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham, Alabama today has one of the finest collections in the Southeast US, with more than 24,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and decorative arts representing a numerous diverse cultures, including Asian, European, American,...
in Birmingham, Alabama to Columbia Museum of Art
Columbia Museum of Art
The Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, South Carolina has a collection of European and American fine and decorative art that spans several centuries...
in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
; and the Louisiana Center for Arts and Sciences in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The exhibit also appeared as a book.
In "Voices Rising: Alabama Women at the Millennium", Springer's work was selected by the Montgomery Museum of Art along with Pinky Bass
Pinky Bass
Pinky M. M. Bass is an American photographer, known for her work in pinhole photography.Bass, a resident of Fairhope, Alabama, has exhibited at a number of museums including the Ashville Art Museum, Birmingham Museum of Art, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta,...
and others. This show was funded by National Museum of Women in the Arts
National Museum of Women in the Arts
The National Museum of Women in the Arts , located in Washington, D.C. is the only museum solely dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements in the visual, performing, and literary arts. NMWA was incorporated in 1981 by Wallace and Wilhelmina Holladay...
(NMWA).
Springer and Jim Neel photographed rural worshipers for Salvation on Sand Mountain.
Springer has published several books, taught seminars at the International Center of Photography, appeared on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
and Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
, and has had work appear in dozens of publications, including the New York Times, Village Voice, Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
, and Harper’s Bazaar.
Springer is a faculty member of the International Center of Photography
International Center of Photography
The International Center of Photography is a photography museum, school, and research center in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
in NYC.