Merry Moor Winnett, Photographer
Landscapes
Merry invented new ways to view familiar scenes with alternative techniques including multiple negatives, collage, and hand-painting. She was constantly experimenting and like one of her mentors, Bea Nettles, Merry wrote extensively about her own techniques. For example, sewing and using glitter on photographs was one of her new, non-traditional methods. Merry believed in the honesty of personal expression.
Black and white - multiple negatives - toned - hand colored and collaged Merry and Tommy took a photography trip by flying into Colorado and renting a car to explore the southwest. This image was shot at Valley of Fire State Park ( near Las Vegas). Merry's photo depicts a 20th century petroglyph of an eagle. Real money (American quarters) were added as a reference to Vegas. Other layers of meaning are evident.
Black and white single negative hand colored Homage to Ansel Adams
This a double negative print made with Kodak Infrared, black and white film. Merry was quoted many times saying that this was the best picture she ever took. There was no narrative about this shot other than it was a magical looking image. The man-made tree was shot at Cypress Park in Florida and the bird was shot in the Everglades on her honeymoon.
Black and white infrared - multiple negatives - with slight tinting in gold tones and with 3-d miniature, hand-made, railroad tracks collaged on the sides. This was shot in NC between High Point and Kernersville. Abundant kudzu is shown growing close to the tracks. "Take a Ride on the Reading" may refer to the first railroad stop on the game called, "Monopoly". The gold paint and gold tracks may refer to monopoly money.
About 11 x14 inches Black and white photographs with stitching- Hand colored The shot depicts roof lines. The full title is below. First and Second Lutheran Churches of Tampa, 1979
A black and white infrared photograph is at the top with hand coloring and stitching The bottom section has six photographs of a happy face with varying degrees of light. A real, pale blue ribbon connects the images. Shot at Greensboro NC fairgrounds
The full title is "Enigmatic Fascination - Homage to Georgia O Keeffe" This complex composite print and collage was made from multiple negatives with hand coloring and air brushing. Merry photographed a jigsaw puzzle that she had ordered in the mail. The company offered to make jigsaw puzzles of your own photos. The opposites between bones and flowers and other dueling forces exists. Taos, New Mexico is the setting for the landscape.
This is a single negative of Kodak infrared. It is an homage to Ansel Adams.
Multiple negatives, toned and hand colored Horizontal lightning is rarely seen near earth and usually occurs at high atmospheres. The "outer space" nature of this lightning is probably why it appealed to Merry. The foreground of palm trees was shot in Florida as was the clock. The huge, neon, pink, Art Deco look to the clock adds fun and energy to this stormy scene.
Multiple negatives, black and white, infrared. Shot in Florida Epcot Center - Disney World Aquarium was shot in Monterey Bay, CA
This is a photo - lithograph - done the traditional way on limestone. Merry worked with Winstone Press that served Winston Salem artists in the 1980s with the Tamarind Master Printer named Cappy Kuhn. The image is of Pilot Mountain which is north of Winston Salem.
Black and white single negative toned hand colored glitter
Black and white single negative toned hand colored glitter
Black and white Multiple negatives toned hand colored added grid
Black and white Multiple negatives with some solarized toned hand colored glitter This was Merry's last complex image and was made for the Artist of the Year Award from Sawtooth Center into an edition of 75. All of the prints were done by hand. Merry said "If this is the last complex image that I ever make, then it is okay. Well, it is not okay. However, given enough time, I guess you can get used to anything"
Black and white 1980 multiple negatives - infrared hand colored Old hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida
Black and white single negative hand colored Shot at Wrightsville Beach, NC
Black and white single negative hand colored