Kathy Radie

Russian Far East Photography Collection

My Russian Far East Collection is a body of work that revisits a trip I made to Eastern Russia in 1993. I was welcomed into the homes and lives of people who live far off the beaten path. Here, I observed the challenges and harsh realities of living in a remote environment and witnessed the humanity and dignity of people who rely on each other in their struggle to survive. I took my trip shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. This region entered a period of social and economic ruin as the Soviet-era subsidies ended. Added to this were the challenges of living in a locale already difficult given the extreme climate, isolation, and poorly developed infrastructure. I visited the city of Magadan, which is the only large industrial center in the region and is best known as the most feared and frigid outpost of the Soviet gulag. Many of its\' residents are descendants of former gulag prisoners, guards, or administrators. When discussing their past, some talk as if it happened yesterday. My travels also took me to the small town of Bilibino, home to the world\'s northernmost nuclear power plant. My visits to local Orphanages and Medical Centers touched my emotions. The Orphanages were crowded with the causalities of alcoholism and other social failings. The children\'s hopeful faces were stark reminder that life is hard and unforgiving in this part of the world. My travels also took me to primal wilderness areas where indigenous people, the Reindeer Chukchi, live as nomads in the inland tundra region, migrating seasonally with their herds of reindeer. Capturing the life of these subsistence families has been imprinted in my mind forever, as changes were well underway that ultimately eroded this way of life. Today only a small number of these people live a nomadic lifestyle in their yaranga (reindeer-hide) tents. The Arctic reindeer herders\' livelihood is now threatened by warmer winters and an uncertain climate future.

Photographer

Kathy Radie

I currently split my time living in the States of Oregon and Alaska, two of the many places that have shaped my life view and photographic eye. My images have found a home in Juried Art Shows, Commissions for 1% for the Arts and in permanent collection at the University of Alaska Museum and San Francisco Art Institute. I am a current member of "LightBox Gallery", Astoria Oregon and "The Portland Darkroom."

My curiosity in photography began at the age of 12 with my Kodak 'Brownie'. Despite a constant barrage of questioning by my father as to why I was taking so many pictures and wasting film, my interest never waned. My persistence eventually led to my studies at the University of Iowa, studying Fine Art Photography along with the History of Photography.

As a seasoned traveler, I feel comfortable in a variety of settings which includes landscape, portrait and abstract photography. Landscape appeals to my introspective self, portrait reflects my love of the diversity of people and abstract says let's give this a second look.

This user account status is Approved