Five minutes with photographer and artist Michael Dantzler
Some people are amazing ambassadors for the city. Michael Dantzler, a photographer, artist and lover of Columbia, fits that description and more. He took some time out of his busy schedule to tell us about his work and why he loves being in Columbia. To learn more, go to michaeldantzler.com.
Q. For the people that don’t know, tell us a little about yourself.
A. I’m a photographer, artist and community connector. I have been doing photography professionally for almost 10 years but my creative origins are drawing maps from imagination and growing up as a church saxophonist. Currently, I’m the owner of Michael Dantzler Photography, a photography club teacher for the Auntie Karen Foundation, and a maven for SC Art Commission’s Art of Community: Rural SC initiative.
Since I’m based in my hometown of Eastover, I’m the town’s photographer, newsletter, and social media coordinator. Anything to do with storytelling and connecting the community in various ways, that’s my forte.
A few years ago, I started the Eastover Community Garden with the support of the Town of Eastover, UofSC and Richland Library. Around that time, I was also awarded the Leo Twiggs Arts Leadership Award and currently a Riley Institute Fellow, thanks to the SC Arts Commission. Be on the look out for my Gardens For Equilibrium photography collection exhibiting in various venues.
Q. So many artists talk about the struggles of being in Columbia. But you’ve seemed to embrace it. What are some of the things about Columbia’s community that you believe you can’t get anywhere else?
A. Struggling as an artist in Columbia has been some of the most enlightening medicine I have ever experienced. It usually doesn’t feel great mid-struggle but once you’re through a couple of hard patches, you can go through just about anything. If you can sustain yourself as a creative in Columbia, you can sustain yourself anywhere in the world.
Columbia is a vortex as the birthplace of super-talented people who either move away or somehow miraculously find a way to make a living or even more, start a family as a creative here in Columbia. In other words, keep your day job unless you have a family, tribe, community and village to support you. Don’t be foolish and be overly independent.
Most of all, Columbia is still a blank canvas in various ways where larger cities in most cases as crowded with people of the same talent and interests. You can easily stand out here if your work is phenomenal. Everyone can eat here. There’s still a small-city charm here and the lesser of an ivory tower vibe when it comes to networking.
Preach Jacobs, special to GoColumbia
This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 12:08 PM with the headline "Five minutes with photographer and artist Michael Dantzler."