Students of the Documentary
By Mathew Neshiem, Staff Writer

— February 11, 2003

Professor Wayne Gudmundson’s documentary photography class at Minnesota State University Moorhead meets from 4-6 pm in CM260 on Wednesday. Class hasn’t started yet but many of the students are already seated around the long, wood table. It’s a small class and several of them know each other. As you meet the students of this class you appreciate how much of a creative effort each project is.       Even before class starts Andrea Blowers and Meg Lindholm are discussing their projects. Blowers brought in a few books to help her with her project, photographing the wind. Lindholm has been photographing immigrant workers at a window factory in downtown Fargo.
      Near the other end of the table is Clarence Cole. For his documentary he has a unique plan to use “Mr. Bunny.” This white stuffed rabbit has dark sunglasses and looks cooler than Tom Cruise in a flight jacket. Mr. Bunny was the subject of an earlier project where the white rabbit was photographed visiting different locations in Fargo. This semester Clarence is doing a sequel by hitting the road and photographing the rabbit with the giant monuments of the Midwest. By the end of the project Mr. Bunny will have made many new friends such as the giant Bison at Jamestown, the Catfish at Wahpeton, and the Otter at Fergus Falls.
      Across the table from Cole is Leah Prosser. She came upon her idea while trying to think of things to do after she graduates in the spring. At the time she was thinking that it might be fun to be a beautician. Her mother suggested she visit “Rita’s,” an old beautician’s shop next to her house. Leah explains to me that much of what makes Rita’s visually unique is how you can tell its age when you come in the door. The shop feels like something from another decade with a row of chairs and beauty tools running down the middle, flanked by an aisle and mirrors on each side. A pool of colorful and long-standing regulars sustains Rita’s, each of whom has a card explaining in detail what that person wants done when she comes in.

Documentary continued ..........

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