Interview with Linda Kroff

Introduction – My name is Farris Ramadan and I was granted the opportunity to meet with Lind Kroff in person through an email request. I was a student in one of her advanced theory classes and had built a good standing with her. I was always curious about her career as a photographer, especially since she was made the head of the photography department at CSU Fullerton. We arranged to meet at her office after she was done teaching an analog photography class, but instead found it to be more comfortable in the classroom itself. We then entered the classroom and sat down at the same, two chairs we would sit in when I took her class previously. This created an atmosphere and reminiscence, rather than a formal environment. Once we settled in and got the formalities aside, the questions started rolling and she was more than happy to oblige.FR – Well, let’s jump into the questions that no one wants to answer. When were you born and where?LK – I was born on December 16th, 1960, in Redwood City, California. It’s just a bit south of San Francisco.FR – And what was it like living there? Did you ever face any challenges, because you are female, growing up in that time?LK - Honestly, no. I was very lucky. My parents were both well-educated people. My father attended UC Berkley and became a lawyer while my mom had studied at Stanford. My parents believed in me and that I could be what I wanted to be. It also didn’t hurt to grow up in a progressive area, so, I must thank the privilege I was given in not being told what a woman ought to be like many others face.FR – Interesting, that does sound good, not having any expectations imposed upon you. So, have you lived in California your whole life?LK – Oh no, when I graduated from high school in 1978, I went to go study literature at the University of Colorado.FR – So, you weren’t immediately drawn to photography?LK – No, I didn’t have much of an idea of what I wanted to do, but I did know what interested me. I ended up studying English, Spanish, humanities, art, and music. This went on until I graduated in 1983.FR – So, when exactly do you think photography first made an impression in your life then?LK – If I had to pick a defining moment, it would have to be in 1981 when I did a study abroad program in Spain. I spent a year there and was immersed in the culture. This forced me to have to quickly pick up Spanish as a second language. But anyways, I had a hard time relating to people and found one of the easiest ways to capture my feelings or see things universally, regardless of one’s origin, was through photography. Everybody can see a picture and tell what it is if the subject matter is purely representational.FR – So, did you use that newfound passion and pursue photography after you graduated?LK – Somewhat I would say. I lived in Boulder, Colorado for two more years after I graduated and pursued my own independent work. But of course, that’s not going to pay the bills. Believe it or not, I got a job at the time that was called a plant technician. It was a do-nothing job. All I had to do was come into the office after hours and water any plants they had. Can you believe such a job existed? But hey, it paid my way while I did my exploration of photography.FR – That does sound funny. But we all do what we must do. So, obviously you have your master’s degree, because you’re a full-time faculty member at CSU Fullerton. Where did you get your degree? And was photography your new course of study?LK – Yes! I did study photography for my master’s degree. Well, the program was called experimental media, because it also focused on installations and lighting. I went to the Art Institute of Chicago in 1986 to get my master’s, because the area was a great hub for artists, much like one would think of Los Angeles or New York.FR – Wow, that must have been expensive! Did you save up money from your work as a plant technician? Or, did you have to take out student loans?LK – Actually, I submitted a portfolio from my independent work and was awarded a full scholarship! It paid for three quarters of the total cost for me to get my degree. I graduated with my master’s in 1989 and did a few art shows during my time in Chicago.FR – So, did you decide to come back to California after that to teach?LK – Nope. Believe it or not, my first teaching position was at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Now, that’s the first place I ever experienced sexism, to no one’s surprise. I mean, it is the south and what else would you expect?FR – Was that the worst sexism you have ever faced?LK – No, but I’ll save that for another time.FR – Fair enough, so, when did you start teaching at CSU Fullerton?LK – Well, I left the other university in 1996 and came back to California. I spent about three years doing more photography work and then became a faculty member of CSU Fullerton in 1999. I have been teaching here for 20 years and became the department head of photography in 2008.FR – Sounds like you found a place to settle in. Has it been a fulfilling job?LK – Absolutely, I love teaching. You get to meet a wide variety of people and get to keep learning, even as a teacher. I have had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful staff members and students over the years.Conclusion – All in all, Linda Kroff was a very fun person to talk to. Her energetic personality and laid-back attitude made the interview feel more casual and less formal, which really allowed the conversation to happen organically. She was very informative and honest about her experiences. She was genuinely trying to give me advice about things that she wished she had known before entering the world of teaching, because that is an aspiration of mine after I work in my field of study for a bit. And especially, because of how open she was about the events in her life, she felt more sincere than others usually come off to be. Overall, I enjoyed our chat and will hold the advice she gave me to heart. via /r/photography https://ift.tt/2TcOyCZ