ABOUT OLGA GALPERIN

As a child growing up in Siberia, I daydreamed of distant lands and foreign cultures. I longed to travel to those exotic places I’d only ever read about in books; my imagination was inundated with images of bustling cities, of majestic landscapes and of what laid beyond the expansive seas that separated our worlds. I suppose in hindsight my fascination with the unknown was not unlike that of most children my age but as children we have limited resources and, so, must defer to the accessible and familiar. For me, it was my great grandfather’s photography. His pictures told a 1,000 stories and immediately transported me to all the places I’d only ever dreamt about. His photographs were so expressive and poignant; I was mesmerized and forever transformed. I immediately ceased to perceive photographs as one-dimensional; the delicate image of a rose now possessed an aromatic fragrance that seemed to literally emanate from the page and I could practically feel its soft, velvety petals on my fingertips. It was as though my existence until now had been void of color and of depth but, with one click of the lens, I’d magically awakened from my slumber. The haze that had previously dulled my senses had been lifted; I was alert and alive! From that point forward, I was determined to follow in my great grandfather’s footsteps and become a professional photographer.

A JACK INTERVIEW WITH OLGA GALPERIN

What was your first experience with art?

At school.

Have you always been an artist or is this a career change?

This is a career change.

Have you ever taken classes/courses?

Yes, SCAD, in Atlanta.

Which comes first - the inspiration or the medium?

The inspiration is what starts it all for me.

Do you have a favorite piece you've done?

My favorite piece would have to be "White Orchid."

Can you draw a perfect circle freehand?

No. I never could.