Roll With It

Photo exhibit highlights derby girls

By  Willona M. Sloan

Courtesy of Cory Oberndorfer

Artist Cory Oberndorfer knew he was hooked after his first roller derby a couple years back, which he attended in the interest of support for some skater friends. “I was fascinated by the way roller derby is a performative event, yet such a serious sport that contradicts female stereotypes. Plus, I’ve always been attracted to women that are tougher than me. And derby girls are.”

Today, Oberndorfer snaps shots during matches that he uses as studies for his vivid, larger-than-life paintings. Last May, he unveiled “Novelty,” his floor-to-ceiling mural depicting female skaters jumping, skidding and sliding, at American University’s arts center. There, he ushered in a flock of real-life roller girls to take a spin while he took a series of installation shots. “It brought the place to life, and there was a definite interaction between the girls and my paintings,” he explained.

Now that he’s out of school, Oberndorfer has local plans for the next phase of his artistic career. “I plan on sticking around D.C. [I’m] enjoying the boom in the emerging arts scene.”

For additional details, visit www.myspace.com/coryoberndorfer.

(September 2008)

Tags: art, Entertainment, Lights