Artist Statement
A tree cannot grow without roots holding it fast to the ground, procuring its very nourishment. The family tree is equally dependent upon its infrastructure. We are bound to specific lineages that have brought us to this present state in time. Much of what is known about past generations can be found in both written and visual forms. However, any record of time is an acute interpretation of the past. Photographs, for instance, frame the outward appearance of things, while they simultaneously divulge hidden qualities embedded in the photographer’s process. Similarly, words frame experiences and shape meanings.
I use a large format view camera to document the aging Virginia landscapes along my ancestral line. My commitment to darkroom processes keeps me deeply rooted in time even long after I have left each historic site. I expose my images with text to reveal layers of experiences. The gelatin silver prints are bound together in handmade wooden books that represent the family tree. This work illuminates the compounded research and recordings of hundreds of descendants all working at different times to secure family histories. It is our responsibility to continue engaging with the past since it is not a closed book, but an open invitation to interact with the remnants of time and contribute our own meanings.
I use a large format view camera to document the aging Virginia landscapes along my ancestral line. My commitment to darkroom processes keeps me deeply rooted in time even long after I have left each historic site. I expose my images with text to reveal layers of experiences. The gelatin silver prints are bound together in handmade wooden books that represent the family tree. This work illuminates the compounded research and recordings of hundreds of descendants all working at different times to secure family histories. It is our responsibility to continue engaging with the past since it is not a closed book, but an open invitation to interact with the remnants of time and contribute our own meanings.
Bodies of Work
Installation Views
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New Hampshire Institute of Art
MFA Photography Thesis Exhibition "A Forest for the Trees" Manchester, NH January, 2017 |
