RIP: Shirley Fischer, photo teacher + inspiration for LOUIE of the week
A few weeks ago, I found out one of my old college teachers died. Shirley Fischer was a photography teacher at De Anza College. The class I took with her had an official name of “intermediate photography,” but it was really all about experimental photography, using the camera as a creative tool. I took this course before Photoshop was ever invented, and it was one of my most enjoyable college courses I ever took. I remember trying out all sorts of different film stocks for her assignments – infa-red film, Kodalith, and I even played with some liquid photo emulsion. Through this course, I developed some great friendships I’m still in contact with, and I discovered some contemporary artists that pushed the frontiers of photographic art.
The one thing I loved about Shirley Fischer was her enthusiasm for the creative spirit. She encouraged her students to explore outside their typical circles of consciousness, and mix things up whenever possible.
Not long after I took her course, I got involved with KFJC Radio at Foothill College, which was linked in the same district as De Anza College. When the big MAXIMUM LOUIE LOUIE marathon took place, there were a lot of different LOUIE performances by all sorts of musical groups.
One of the musical groups that submitted a unique rendition of LOUIE LOUIE was known as “Shirley Fischer’s Creative Techniques Class.” Sandwiched between “Screaming Faucets” and “Sparking Godzillas,” this musical group was a collective of vocals, and guitars hammering out yet another semi-standard version that got lost amongst the 800+ versions that were aired during this very special marathon.
I have no idea if Shirley Fischer was actually involved with this recording, or even knew about its existence, but it was nice to know that she was an inspiration for recording this rendition.
After I graduated from De Anza, I never kept track of what happened to Shirley Fischer. I never went back to visit to say hello.
After a friend told me that Shirley Fischer might have died, I did a Google search to see if I could find an obituary on her. The only thing I could find was a mention of an art show that paid tribute to her, honoring her memory by exhibiting some of her photographs. She passed away in 2002, and actually taught at De Anza College for 30 years.
I wish I had a photograph of her, but unfortunately I never took one.
To honor one of my favorite teachers, I’ll share an MP3 audio recording of “SHIRLEY FISCHER’S CREATIVE TECHNIQUES CLASS” performing “LOUIE LOUIE.” I have no idea who’s actually part of this recording, but I think Shirley would probably approve.
It’ll be this week’s LOUIE of the Week!
Thank you, Shirley Fischer! You will not be forgotten!
SHIRLEY FISCHER’S CREATIVE TECHNIQUES CLASS – LOUIE LOUIE (2:17).
I Loved her classes. She was such a dedicated instructor (her and Mr. Craven.)I have over the last few years searched for her work on the internet hoping to find her and tell her how much I enjoyed her classes.
I will never forget the earthquake we felt one day in class, only to find the following day that at the time of the earthquake Ansel Adams had passed.
I will miss her always.
EP… I just discovered your blog (at least in my conscious mind) and found this entry on DeAnza and Ms.Fischer. Though I only survived one semester, I remember her & Craven well…
I bet she would be REAL surprised to see my current profession… Thanks for the memory!
Today I was responding to the question, “Who are the people who have influenced your career the most?”
I began my response with this . . . “So many photographers have influenced me over the years it’s hard to limit my response. Shirley Fischer opened the door to my future when she enthusiastically taught me and many others the techniques and fun of photography at De Anza College in Cupertino, California. It was then, the first time I saw a photographic print appear in the darkroom, that I began a photographic journey that has yet to end. I was hooked.”
Then I hopped online to see what I could find out about Shirley . . . and I came across this bog. Reading this post is a happy sad experience for me. Shirley Fischer set me on a path in 1972 that I have been on to this day (Okay with a couple of detours here and there).
I can’t even remember how many times I’ve thought of Shirley over the years and have been grateful for her guidance and influence.
Shirley was my aunt. She did pass away and her last name is spelled Fisher not Fischer. Thank you all for the kind thoughts.