How do geographic borders define, constrain, and alter relationships between neighbors? Susan Rochester is an Oregon-based artist and community college educator. She has been obsessed with maps and borders and she wanted a paper map depicting the entire length of the US-Mexico border. When she couldn’t find the exact map she had in mind, she decided to make one. While piecing together mile upon mile of the border, she was reminded of Robert Frost’s adage about fences and good neighbors. Her artwork transformed as she worked to better understand the line between two neighboring countries. Born in Southern California, Susan Rochester moved to Oregon while in elementary school. She has been a photographer since the age of 12, and worked commercially before turning exclusively to fine art pursuits 20 years ago. She holds a BA and MA in Art History from the University of Oregon.

Her studio practice is based on contemporary and historic photographic process, drawing, painting, and book arts. She serves as an Associate Professor of Art at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, where she teaches art history, book arts, and painting.

Rochester has exhibited her work in the United States and abroad. She has been a NEH Summer Scholar, and was part of a Fulbright-Hays research project in North Cyprus. She resides in Sutherlin, Oregon with her husband and three cats. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx