UNO documentary: Gretchen Wheaton, New Orleans Artist

What: Gretchen Wheaton, New Orleans Artist

Film by: UNO student and documentarian Maria Neal

Editor’s Note: ViaNolaVie partners with students of UNO professor László Zsolt Fülöp, pairing them with artists, non-profits, environmental groups, and cultural entities to facilitate a live curriculum that results in a short documentary. This documentary short was made by Maria Neal, a student in the Film and Theatre Department at the University of New Orleans, about New Orleans artist Gretchen Wheaton.

[Full transcription of Gretchen Wheaton]

My name is Gretchen Wheaton. I’m originally from New Jersey. I went to college in Philadelphia, Moore College of Art, all women’s school, still going on, I think it’s about one hundred and seventy-five years old. And I moved to New Orleans in my twenties, so I’ve lived in New Orleans longer than I’ve lived anyplace else. So this is home. 

I’m an artist. My specialty is photography. But I think now as I’m getting older, I think of myself more as an artist than as a photographer. And being in New Orleans is great. I mean, you know, New York is the big center of the art world, but regionally, we’ve got it all here, so it’s very inspirational, travel’s inspirational. And I like collecting art, pottery, glass, anything.

You know, I think the most satisfying thing for me as an artist is for people to see my work. That’s such a big part of what we do as artists, get a reaction from people. I had a negative review once at an art gallery that I’ll never forget, you know, but it’s all constructive, it all helps in the end. 

When I went to college, it was the “Me” generation, it was the late 60s, protest, Vietnam War, nobody cared about making money. I was going to be an artist. Museums to me are where I like to go to be renewed and to be inspired. And I don’t look at just photography, I look at everything. You know, it’s like you can never get enough.

I think as an artist, I see things more clearly, especially as a photographer. I’m looking back over to the past months and I really didn’t travel like I usually do and go out and photograph. I know what’s happened during COVID, I’ve gotten totally dependent on my cell phone, that’s my camera. I haven’t had my good 35 mm, I haven’t used it really since before COVID, I’m just thinking that now, it’s almost like, I don’t need it.

I think in New Orleans were so lucky to have the Ogden in particular because it showcases just the South and it’s such a strong, strong world of art in the South. And so we’ve got a lot here. We have, if you want traditional art, New Orleans Museum of Art, which also has a very good contemporary wing. So the sculpture garden, I mean, how lucky we have that! Today would be a perfect day to go there but the Saints are playing, so I won’t be there.

Well art to me is just such a natural part of my life. I think people that aren’t even interested in art are influenced by it. We need it like we need music, like we need all the arts. So I don’t know. It’s just a part of my life and I think life is more full with art.