FREDONIA — Local artist Sandra Maggio did not originally start her professional career as a photographer, but instead began as a teacher. After retiring, she began her professional artistic career around the age of 70, something that she said was influenced by her brother, Matt Ebling.
“My brother took art classes and learned to develop film through classes at Fredonia High School,” Maggio said. “He is a nature photographer and would take me with him when he would go on the trail to take pictures. He would talk with me about the different types of lenses and everything, so I was caught up through him.”
Maggio said her brother used to sell his photos at wineries and she used to sell with him, but he has slowed down on promoting his own work. Maggio has gone off on her own, creating and selling under the name Untouched Images.
While Maggio took many different types of art classes when she was younger, she said she lost that side of herself when she was teaching, and only recently came back to it. She is a part of the North Shore Arts Alliance of Chautauqua County, which is an organization of many different types of artists, including photographers, painters and drawers. Maggio has recently started taking drawing and painting classes through the NSAA again.
“I want to explore other art forms a little bit because I think it can help with my photography skills,” Maggio said. “Stretching into other art can help with what you do. It has been years since I’ve taken an art class, but other types of art like drawing can help me think through what I do when I take a photo, like if I want to have what I’m taking a picture of in the center or use what is called the thirds method. I am refreshing my education.”
Sandra Maggio, who after retiring from teaching began working on her passion for nature photography.
Submitted photo
Maggio described herself as a “purist” with art, meaning she seeks to capture what is right in front of her. She said art can come in many forms, and another new form for her is poetry. Maggio is a part of a writing group through Lakeshore Center for the Arts. The group reads and critiques other members’ work and together with her photography, Maggio is working on publishing a book, to be titled “Finding Peace In Times Like These”.
“For my book I want people to see the photos and then read the poem that goes with it and I hope that it will help people feel calm with all of the chaos in the world,” Maggio said. “I want my book to allow people to ‘stop and smell the roses’ and see the beauty in the world. There is a lot of beauty in the world that you can miss if you just go around on your phone. I want to help people see that, and be happier.”
Maggio said her passion for photography has been rekindled through the help of some of her successes. This includes past contests at the Chautauqua County Fair.
“When you find some success, you think ‘maybe I’ve got something here’, so you’re more likely to keep going,” Maggio said. “At the Chautauqua County Fair before Covid they had a contest with different categories like animals, farms, birds, and I would enter around 25 pictures each year. I started getting blue and red ribbons and just before Covid I got best in show.”
Another big success for Maggio is through the Art Scapes program in Jamestown. Through the Chautauqua Art Gallery, there were 248 entries with 53 that were picked to go on banners in Jamestown’s art district. Maggio said of the three she was allowed to enter, two were picked to be on banners.
“There’s a brochure at the Chautauqua Art Gallery and you can pick it up and go take a walk through the art district and see the banners, featuring work from many local artists,” Maggio said. “Seeing my work on those banners was when I really started to feel like I made it.”
Other successes for Maggio are in the selling business. Westfield’s Patterson Library has a curator that allows work from the NSAA group to be displayed and sold there. Maggio said having people buy her photos there and have them in their home is “better than a prize”.
Maggio will be having a one-person show at Next Chapter Bookstore — 12 Park Place, Fredonia — on Oct. 25 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Over 50 of her photos will be on display.
Maggio has also partnered with Fredonia Village Frame Shop to pick frames that will enhance her photos. She said she used to just do that through matting but now is working on doing that through framing as well.
Maggio added that she still does not do photoshop and only used a camera phone to take her photos instead of professional equipment. She thanked all of the local organizations that she has become a part of since starting Untouched Images, and encouraged those starting their artistic journey to look into them.
“If others are just starting their journey with art there are many local places that can help,” Maggio said. “It doesn’t even have to be with art, there are still plenty of resources that will help you to get where you want to go. This includes groups like the Lakeshore writing group. We critique each other’s work and especially when it comes from professionals, you should always take all of the critique and don’t be offended or upset. Take time to think about it and listen.”
