Docuwest - Pioneers
The stories of four women artists who courageously confronted social stigma and prejudice in pursuit of equal opportunity and creative freedom in the American West (1870-1970).
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Erika Volchan O’Conor
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you. Visiting my family in Colorado one summer, I drove up (and seemingly back in time) to the small dusty mountain town of Gold Hill. While there, I learned that the largest building in town, a two-story log cabin lodge, had been a vacation spot for hundreds of self-supporting women from Chicago starting in the 1920s. The women were called ‘Bluebirds’ and their leader was Jean Wirt Sherwood, who, in 1911, at the age of 65, established a timeshare vacation home for working women to escape the drudgery of the city. How remarkable!
I then met with the University of Colorado, Boulder’s Chair of the Department of Art and Art History, Kirk Ambrose, who at the time, was researching Jean Wirt Sherwood and a number of other early Boulder County artists for an upcoming art exhibit featuring their work at the University’s Art Museum. His enthusiasm bubbled over as he told me about Helen Henderson Chain, who hiked fourteen thousand foot mountains in a corset and high heels to paint landscapes, about Muriel Sibell Wolle, who immortalized hundreds upon hundreds of mining towns across the West while chairing the University’s Art Department, and about Eve Drewelowe, an outspoken feminist whose art, spanning impressionism to social realism to abstraction, dazzles and disorients.
What fabulous women! These were stories that needed to be shared and remembered. I proposed producing a film, and the rest is history.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The stories of inspirational and influential women are all too often left untold. Pioneers is part of an important effort to reconstruct women’s history and celebrate their contributions to culture and society. The women of Pioneers serve as models for how to live rich and creatively rewarding lives in the face of prohibitive social restrictions and discrimination. Through their actions, large and small, they improved quality of life and expanded access to opportunities for themselves and others. They stood up to misogyny, racism, and classicism. They promoted greater accessibility to arts education. They championed local identity while celebrating foreign culture. They tirelessly pursued their creative passions. These women are representative of so many other influential women of the American West, whose stories have yet to be told.
Unfortunately, we still face many of the social, political and environmental challenges of those days. In the art world, works by women and minority groups are still appallingly underrepresented. The environmental degradation that Eve Drewelowe bemoaned in the 1970s has become ever more critical. Immigrants and other members of our communities still face discrimination, intimidation and violence.
The women of Pioneers took action to address the inequities around them. Witnessing flagrant discrimination against immigrant communities, Helen Henderson Chain set up a school to teach them English; and Jean Wirt Sherwood volunteered at Jane Addams’ Hull House, teaching art and arts appreciation. At a time when it was unacceptable for a woman to go to a restaurant unaccompanied, Jean Wirt Sherwood created safe spaces for Chicago working women to eat lunch, form a community, and enjoy art reproductions. Just as Muriel Sibell Wolle stood up against racist policies and conventions of her day (at a time when the KKK burned crosses in the center of town), so must we all support one another and interrupt systemic institutional racism. There is still much work to be done. Each time I watch this film, I feel invigorated to improve my community and pursue my interests. I believe that you will feel the same.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I am interested in telling stories of human ingenuity, courage, compassion and resilience. The subjects I am interested in are people who show unwavering dedication to their idea or passion, in the face of any obstacle. Who doesn’t love a story about someone who overcomes great odds to achieve a goal through hard work and faith in the virtue of their cause?
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Originally, I planned to produce a thirty-minute short video about these four women, for display at the exhibition of their work at the University of Colorado, Boulder Art Museum. The more I learned about the subjects and the more resources I found, the more I realized that thirty minutes would not do justice to these women’s’ stories.
The availability of materials on each of the subjects was a determining factor for the direction I took with the script. For some, there were only paintings and photographs, for some there were no paintings and only writing, for some I had diaries, art and photos. It made for a good challenge to keep the various sections of the film seemingly cohesive despite the difference in available material. Though I had not originally planned on re-enactment scenes, the inclusion of these scenes greatly increased my ability to bring these historical subjects to life and to create a sense of cohesion between sections of the film.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
It has been rewarding to see how women and men of all ages have enjoyed the film and taken something from these women’s stories that they are able to apply to their own lives. Many audience members have remarked how relevant the issues covered in the film are to our current socio-political climate. Like these women before us, we must continue to combat racism, gender discrimination, xenophobia and classism today.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I have been delighted to meet older audience members who knew some of the subjects of my film personally and who have shared some anecdotes about them. One gentleman from the Ghost Town Club of Colorado even shared a recording he had made in 1969 of a speech that Muriel Sibell Wolle made to the club. It was very emotional to hear her real voice for the first time. I have been surprised by how moved some of my audience members have been after watching the film, especially older women who can relate to the struggles faced by these pioneers.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am honored to have my film featured on www.WeAreMovingStories.com, an international platform that boosts the profile for so many deserving independent films. Currently, my audience has been limited to people in Colorado, where the film has been screened at the DocuWest Film Festival, at the History Colorado Center, at the Denver Public Library, at the University of Colorado, among other local venues. Having ‘Pioneers’ profiled on www.WeAreMovingStories.com will get it seen by movie fans from around the world. My hope is that ‘Pioneers’ can be viewed by as many people as possible and I appreciate www.wearemovingstories.com raising it’s profile.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
My hope is that by sharing these pioneering women’s stories with as many people as possible, audiences will be inspired by these women’s tireless dedication to their art and social causes. Whether you are an artist, scientist, computer programmer, medical researcher or social crusader, you can apply that level of grit and commitment to your cause.
Secondly, I hope that women, girls and feminists of all genders and ages will appreciate learning more about the underexposed contributions that women have made to society. We should recognize that the struggle for female empowerment has been a long one and that most of the foot soldiers may never get the recognition they deserve.
Finally, I hope that audience members of all ages will be motivated to take action in their communities to promote access to the arts and to stand up for people of all backgrounds.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What can we learn from the past to improve society today? How were women able to impact society even before they were considered citizens under the law? Why are women and minorities still grossly underrepresented in the art world and what can be done about this? Why is it important to use media to show stories of women? What needs to be done to promote the telling of such stories? Is artistic appreciation and expression important for people of all backgrounds? What is the value of art in community? How can you increase access to arts education for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds?
Would you like to add anything else?
I hope you enjoy the film!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Working in collaboration with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, I will soon be launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to produce a 60-minute documentary about the fascinating life, art and times of Ukrainian-Russian gem carver, Vasily Konovalenko.
Interview: October 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Pioneers
The stories of four women artists who courageously confronted social stigma and prejudice in pursuit of equal opportunity and creative freedom in the American West (1870-1970).
Length: 84min
Director: Erika Volchan O’Conor
Producer: Erika Volchan O’Conor
Writer: Erika Volchan O’Conor
About the writer, director and producer:
Based in Boulder, Colorado, documentary filmmaker Erika Volchan O'Conor produces stories that highlight the ingenuity, bravery, generosity and resilience of the human spirit.
Looking for: sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists
Social media handles:
Facebook: @WomenPioneers
Other: http://erika-oconor.squarespace.com
Made in association with: University of Colorado Boulder Art Museum