The World According to Traci Goudie

It's difficult to describe a photograph by Austin artist Traci Goudie. It is more of something that you experience. They make you look...They make you think...They make you laugh.

Often, there is an elitism to photography, in particular when it comes to fashion photography. Its intention is to transport you to some place far away and make you wish that you were that model, in that beautiful dress, where everything is still and perfect.

Traci's take on fashion photography has the same model, in the same beautiful dress, but there's always a twist...a sort-of humanized side to it. Now don't get me wrong, Traci's work definitely has the fantasy, but it's on a different level. She takes that beautiful model and places her in the middle of a busy street...in a bathing suit...with a full cast on her leg. Or, she uses a rubinesque model, places her at the city dump...in a leopard bikini, looking more confident than the latest Sports Illustrated cover girl.

Traci's work challenges the accepted. It toys with our perspective and glorifies our human-ness. With her background both in front of and behind the camera, Traci has a way of making her models feel comfortable and this comes across in her work. Scenes are staged, but not forced. She seems to uncover what is below the surface. We all know how scary it can be to go there, to go to that dark side. Traci Goudie just seems to make it painless.

1.Greatest achievement to date: Gaining the respect of my peers. I am grateful to be able to work with the likes of some amazing artists, and to have their respect and trust that I will really represent them is huge.

2.How did you get your start? It's difficult to say that I got my start in some traditional way. It was more a culmination of interests that I think were programmed into me before birth (drawing, painting, photography, etc...)

3.Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I hope to be a successful photographer/director, and by successful I don't necessarily mean financially, I hope to have rendered an impact on the world in some way (I sound like a Miss America pageant contestant)

4.Where do you find your inspiration? Everywhere. I love NYC because of the constant stream of visual stimuli: people on the subway, a person's expression as they pass you on the streets, the color of a building, anything and everything. Music definitely inspires me, maybe that's why a lot of my work is done as a visual representation of music.

5.Role Model/Mentor hmmmmmm...I don't have one specific one, but definitely all the female artists who have succeeded without compromise, like Floria Sigismondi, Sophie Mulier, and Susan Sarandon.

6.Current projects I am currently working on Patty Griffin's new project called "1000 Kisses", this one has been life altering...I just finished working on varying aspects of the "...Trail of Dead" album, and I am currently planning the production of a music video I am directing for Shatzi. I am excited to push through the boundaries to new territory...Oh, and I am having a photography show in March at therapy on South Congress!

7.How do you describe your style? My style, I think is kind of futuristic gothy and fashion raggy. I like big sleeves, long coats, torn seams, and tall boots...

8.Hobbies My hobbies are part of my work, but does that mean I don't have any?? No, I love taking photos, not just for commercial uses, I love looking at design books, I love making goofy art just for myself, and bikram yoga...

9.When did you know this was your calling? Was their a defining moment? I have always wanted to create visual media...I have just sort of gone with the flow...The medium varies but the motivation has always been the same...successfully express a message through visuals, even if the message is an interpretation.

10.Fashion: art or frivolity? I say both and everything in between...You, for example [Jyl], I've seen you throw caution to the wind and wind up with the most magnificent creation of clothing...it is ALL about self expression, from the designer to the patron...

11.What band/person do you dream of working with? I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, to work with Björk...she has always respected the visual artists that she has worked with enough to not only feel comfortable collaborating with them, but breaking new ground with them! Someday, I hope we both get to dress like giant swans and sit in a silver room filled with water...