Teresa Flowers is a local artist whose mediums include photography, painting and illustration. She was the founder of the Women's Art Center, and her many awards include Fine Art Photographer of the Year at the 2003 International Photo Awards. She currently has a solo photography exhibit at the Phillips Gallery (444 E. 200 South), which will be on display through Nov. 12. She also sells shirts, necklaces and belts based on her art, which are sold under the name Sleepictures and available online as well as through boutiques like Fresh, Fice, Frosty Darling, Blue Cockatoo, Coda Gallery, Phillips Gallery and SLCitizen.

What are your earliest memories of creating art?

I was a very energetic and creative kid. Some of my fondest memories were of gathering up the neighborhood kids. We would write and produce these amazing plays. I often played more than one part! I started drawing in 7th grade and pretty much knew that's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was also always dancing and singing.

What are your proudest artistic accomplishments?

I am very proud of starting the Women's Art Center and of winning Fine Art Photographer of the Year at the International Photo Awards. I am very proud of my work being published in many photo magazines, including: Black and White magazine, Photo District News, Shots magazine and a beautiful coffee table book published by Graphis called Nudes 3.

What has been your biggest struggle?

My biggest struggle has been fighting a life-threatening and misunderstood disease called Lyme disease. It affects every area of my life. Each moment I struggle with fatigue and extreme pain in my body and hands. It has gotten into my heart and brain and makes me not myself. Also, no one can see how sick I really am, which really confuses people and frustrates me. Please watch this documentary called Under Our Skin: www.underourskin.com

What inspires you?

The sky, art, music, life, love, big hair, swimming, dancing, hot springs, dreams, volcanoes, singing, chanting, laughing, the ocean, words in sentences and on paper, color, building huts, rusty things, shells, hop scotch, the weather, penguins, pranks, freckles, gold, muscles, meditation, things that make noise, texture, hide-and-go-seek, lines, beauty, food, fables, abandoned buildings, design, cinematography, streaking, scavenger hunts, existentialism, birds, bones, organicness, toilet papering, mysticism, illustration, capture the flag, bike riding, altering books, climbing things, poetry, energy, anatomy, universe, books, painting, hands, flirting, jump roping, swamps, doorbell ditching, water fights, Raging Waters, breaking things, insects, handwriting, photography, cliffs when not falling, adventures, unexpected kisses, lots of stuff.

What messages do you most want to communicate to the world through your art?

My work is very autobiographical. My photos and paintings are both strings leading from one moment of my life to the next. I believe they both speak similar stories and feelings, dealing with extinction, love, feeling lost, beauty, spirituality, freedom and being alone.

How would you describe the theme of your current show at the Phillips Gallery?

My show at Phillips Gallery is a retrospective of the last 13 years. There are almost 30 photographs from several bodies of work. There is a lot of beauty in these photographs, from historical places to hot springs, fog and clouds, matched with majestic faces and forms. There is a surreal, sensual, and spiritual quality to the photos.

The largest photo in the show there depicts several women floating in water surrounded by rock. What went into creating this shot?

This place is a million-year-old crater that is 80-feet deep filled with 100-degree water. I arranged a time with a guy who works there, and who loved my work, to get to shoot there after hours. I brought in lights, wardrobe and models, and a friend catered it. My camera is a medium format camera used on a tripod with long exposures, nothing digital. This was way before I even owned a computer! We had a blast!

Why do you concentrate on images of women in your work?

I often use the female form in my work because it is so beautiful and shapely.

What challenges do you face when photographing yourself?

Well I shoot a lot of Polaroid to get myself in the right place, and there is no lookout, so more chance of getting caught!

How do you help your models feel comfortable being photographed in the nude?

I am not the typical photographer; being a woman really helps and makes people feel much more comfortable. Being in one of my photos is something that you can look back on throughout your life, and remember what an outrageous experience! Oh, and we have so much fun! You feel free, wild and a part of the beauty of the world. You get to use the photos as a vehicle to tap into your self-expression. We have been covered in avocado shells, pudding, mud, feathers, leaves, powdered sugar and on and on. We play dress up with make up and clothes and props to create a new reality. We explore abandoned buildings, parks, cemeteries, airports, caves and hot springs. Who wouldn't want to take part in this! Several times I have been out on a shoot and random ladies will come up and ask how they can become a model. Good times!

What rewards do you get from painting and illustrating that you don't get from photography?

With painting I am more introverted. I am in my own place, by myself creating from my imagination. I love painting because you can work in all these layers and on wood or paper. My photos are like short films, which are a lot of work, from scouting, models, wardrobe, make up, assistants and heavy gear (the assistants carry). It can take weeks of prep; however, it is very rewarding.

How did the Women's Art Center come to be?

I started teaching art classes independently. My style of teaching really spoke to people and in turn they became very popular. I was in a class that was full to the brim and the students were asking, "What's next?" It was an emotional and inspiring moment. Instantaneously and with passion, I blurted out, "I'm starting a women's art center!" The idea grew from there. The people from my classes volunteered to help get it off the ground. It was a very inspiring movement.

What's the concept behind the shirts, necklaces and belts you've created under the name Sleepictures?

The idea was to make my artwork accessible to the masses, for people who loved my work but couldn't normally buy an expensive piece of art. The first collection is based off a series of paintings called The Night Series.

What are your future goals?

To get better from Lyme disease. To continue to grow my company. To make an amazing book of my complete work. To publish my altered books. To have a show at The Museum of Modern Art. To make more outdoor installations. To continue to follow my dreams, bringing my artistic visions to fruition while having a lot of fun and adventure.

What do you have coming up that we should know about?

I am going to have some paintings in an invitational show at Phoenix Gallery in Park City that opens Nov. 27. I am also going to have some paintings in a show called the Family Quilt 2 at the Together Gallery in Portland Oregon that opens in November. Sleepictures is doing some holiday festivals as well. Sleepictures may have a holiday party too. You should come. Go to my Web site and sign up for my mailing list so we can invite you!

More info: www.teresaflowers.com, www.sleepictures.com