Artist blends photos, fashion in 'Newspaper Dolls' exhibit
The new exhibit in the Wings Gallery at College of DuPage fuses fashion and photography by showcasing dresses created from newspapers.
"Zlatka Burtis: Newspaper Dolls" features original works by COD student Burtis, whose eye for creativity has elevated a class project into a work of art. The exhibit is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily through Friday, May 18, in the gallery of the Student Services Center on the Glen Ellyn campus.
Burtis came up with the idea for the dresses while taking a COD portrait photography class in which students were assigned to shoot fashion.
"I've always been into fashion but I didn't want to shoot professional models because they come with their own look," she said. "I thought about making a dress and played with plain wrapping paper, but it didn't work. Then I used wrapping paper with a pattern, but that didn't work, either.
"When I tried newspaper, it started to look good, so I found a model. When I finally showed her the finished dress, she was doubtful and said, 'That's what I'm wearing?' But when she put it on, she was glowing. When I processed the images after the shoot, I thought, 'Wow!'"
The project turned out so well that her work was selected to be part of the Student, Faculty and Staff Art Reception hosted biannually by College of DuPage President Ann Rondeau. Reaction was so positive that her work recently was displayed at the college's inaugural Community Breakfast and now in the Wings Gallery.
Pursuing her passion in the arts is a dream for Burtis. But it wasn't that way when she first graduated from school in her native Czech Republic.
"I grew up in a big house with a lot of land, and my mom said I should study landscape," she said. "But after I started working, I began thinking, 'Is this it?'"
Burtis always wanted to travel and visited a friend in the United States. After two weeks, she entered the lottery for her green card and later began dabbling in photography.
She received her green card and stayed in the United States, later marrying and giving birth to two daughters. At that point, Burtis wanted to return to school and selected the Fashion Studies program at College of DuPage but ended up going in a different direction.
"My husband said I should study photography instead," she said. "I took my first class at COD with Frank Jackowiak, and I began creating my own path in terms of what classes I wanted to take. For example, I love working with film. Digital photography never did it for me and I struggled with that class. Professor Glenn Hanson arranged an independent study opportunity to learn large format photography with 4-by-5-inch negatives, which made me really think about taking photos that way."
Although Burtis has thought about attending an art school, she is happy with the education and diversity of classes ad COD.
"With every course I take, I get an idea and apply it to my next project," she said. "I also ask myself, 'What do I need to learn to make this project work?' and then look for a class that will help.
"I believe in following my dreams. They may not always work out but I have to try. "
For more about the photography program, visit cod.edu/programs/photography. For more about Burtis, visit zlatkamburtis.com.