Fruit of the Orchard Traveling Exhibition
Fruit of the Orchard/Environmental Justice in East Texas
by Tammy Cromer
Publisher's Description
In 1982, a toxic waste facility opened in the Piney Woods in Winona, Texas. The residents were told that the company would plant fruit trees on the land left over from its ostensible salt-water injection well. Soon after the plant opened, however, residents started noticing huge orange clouds rising from the facility and an increase in rates of cancer and birth defects in both humans and animals. The company dismissed their concerns, and confusion about what chemicals it accepted made investigations difficult.
Outraged by what she saw, Phyllis Glazer founded Mothers Organized to Stop Environmental Sins (MOSES) and worked tirelessly to publicize the problems in Winona. The story was featured in People, the Houston Chronicle magazine, and The Dallas Observer. The plant finally closed in 1998, citing the negative publicity generated by the group.
This book originated in 1994 when Cromer was asked by Phyllis Glazer to produce a photograph for a poster about the campaign. She was so touched by the people in the town that she set out to document their stories. Using a plastic Holga camera, she created hauntingly distorted images that are both works of art and testaments to the damage inflicted on the people of a small Texas town by one company’s greed.
In the accompanying essays, Phyllis Glazer describes the history of Winona and the fight against the facility; Roy Flukinger discusses Cromer’s striking photographic technique; Eugene Hargrove explores issues of environmental justice; and Marvin Legator elaborates on how industry and government discourage victims of chemical exposure from seeking or obtaining relief.
About the Photographer Tammy Cromer
Tammy Cromer is an American photographer best known for her work as a social documentary photographer and speaker. She received her degree in commercial photography from Kilgore College, Kilgore, Texas under O. Rufus Lovett. She continued her education by taking workshops from the masters in photography, such as Arnold Newman, Ruth Bernhard, Michael Kenna, Keith Carter, John Sexton, and others. The University of North Texas Press published, Fruit of the Orchard/Environmental Justice in East Texas. She’s received Blue Earth Alliances first ever cash grant, in 1999, for Fruit of the Orchard. Her work is included in public and private collections internationally such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and others. Fruit of the Orchard won a 1st Place under entertainment and culture in the Green Dot Awards and Cromer is a 2009 and 2010 Honoree for National Women's History Project. Cromer was the Texas Photographic Society Vice President, Statewide from 2006 - 2012. She sat on the Longview Museum of Fine Arts Board of Director and brought in workshops and photo exhibits from Ruth Bernhard and Michael Kenna. Cromer won an International Photography Award in 2012 for Landscape. The Longview Chamber of Commerce named Cromer the Entrepreneur of the Year 2012. In 2022, Arts Longview recognized Cromer for creating ArtWalk in Downtown Longview 15 years ago. Cromer currently lives in Dallas, Texas with her Dalmatian/Blue Heeler Kiah, doing Freelance Photography.
Exhibition Info There are 50 Selenium toned Framed 16x20 vertical matted images 1 16x20 Text Panel, 20 text 11x8.5” panels, 50 titles, Speaker and Workshop opportunities and more. This exhibition has 172 linear feet if not stacked. Stacked in Families could be as small as 90 linear feet.
Exhibition Information
Exhibition includes:
50 Selenium-toned, gelatin-silver prints, framed to 16x20 inches, vertical matted images
1 16x20 Text Panel
20 text 11x8.5” panels
50 titles
The ideal exhibition space for this exhibition would include 172 linear feet spaced out in one row or stacked in families at 90 linear feet.
Speaker and Workshop opportunities are available as outlined below.
Traveling Exhibiton
Estimated cost: $3000 to include the following:
Portfolio Review with up to 12 participants: $600
Tammy Cromer will review individual prints or digitally projected images of individual participants over a $350 hour period.
Workshop for up to 12 participants: $600
Workshop topics may include subjects such as “Creating and Designing a Photographic Book.” The length of the workshop is anticipated to last 6 hours.
Lecture Title: Fruit of the Orchard/Environmental Justice in East Texas
Tammy Cromer will address her commitment to working with photography to promote environmental justice.
Lecture length: 45 minutes to 1 hour with additional time for questions: $800
Exhibition Rental Fee: $1000
Round trip shipping costs: TBD, as applicable
Photographer travel costs and accommodations: TBD, as applicable
Here is a link to buy the book https://tammycromer.com/Artist.asp?ArtistID=44895&Akey=6FJX86WC&ajx=1#!asset70281
