Photographer, Educator and Creative Explorer

This week, Ira spoke with photographer, educator and creative explorer Benita VanWinkle, who photographs and documents America’s vanishing movie theaters. In this celluloid episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Benita talks about how she started on her road to capturing theaters on film; how beautiful theaters that couldn’t sustain as film venues could be preserved and repurposed to meeting venues, etc.; how she maps out a trip to photograph 65-90 movie houses in small towns; why she never knows whether she will get inside a theater or not; the wide variety of design elements in movie houses; the best camera she recommends to her students; how she has photographed 1,100 theaters; why she’s partial to small-town theaters; and what they represent in American culture.

Benita VanWinkle is an associate professor of art at High Point University, in High Point, NC. Benita’s work has been exhibited and recognized with awards in numerous international and nationally juried art exhibitions. 

Benita received her MFA from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL.  She continues to work with many non-profit organizations in NC and is a former youth director at Brookstown United Methodist Church in Pfafftown, NC.  She lives with her husband, two rescued dogs, and her neighbor’s horses and free range chickens over the back fence.  

Benita VanWinkle     Website