Alex Matzke is an artist and educator born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1985. After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016, earning an MFA in photography and film, Alex moved home to Omaha to focus on supporting family. While in Omaha Alex has continued documenting long-term projects including migrant farm labor in Western Nebraska, the fight against the Keystone XL Pipeline and Omaha’s Girls Rock music program; as well as teaching photography to newly resettled and first generation youth. After returning to Nebraska, Matzke also returned to welding and is pursuing an industrial welding certification. Alex is planning to relocate to the east-coast in 2019.
If she isn’t working miracles, what is she doing on the battlefield?
We are still asking servicewomen the same question asked of Joan of Arc in the 15th century. If she isn’t working miracles, what is she doing on the battlefield? On January 23, 2013 the US military rescinded the combat ban for servicewomen, but due to the fluid nature of modern warfare, female-identifying service members were already serving in combat-adjacent posts. Though, only through formal combat experience were certain health support services and career promotions available. The images within this body of work investigate nuances of the inadequate support faced by servicewomen.
To view more of Alex Matzke’s work please visit her website.