My Artist Statement:
In the delicate dance between past and present, I find my artistic expression through the lens of antiquity—the dry plate photography process. Born in the rugged landscapes of Colorado to a young mother, my art becomes the conduit through which I explore and interpret the vibrant tapestry of the modern Americana that envelops me.
With a nod to the bygone era of photography, I harness the allure of the dry plate process to cast a contemporary gaze upon the world. This antiquated medium, once a hallmark of capturing moments frozen in silver halide, becomes my vessel for distilling the essence of today. Through the lens, I navigate the intersection of tradition and modernity, finding resonance in the marriage of timeless technique with the urgency of the present.
The alchemy of my process extends beyond the click of the shutter. Employing a unique development method, I coax forth a positive image on glass—a fragile canvas that echoes the fragility of fleeting moments. But I do not stop there; I engage in a dialogue with the image, painting the emulsion side black. In this act, I invite contrast and depth, allowing the subject to emerge from the obsidian depths, a chiaroscuro dance of light and shadow.
My choice of medium is not merely an aesthetic preference but a deliberate act of storytelling. It is a visual symphony that speaks of my roots and my journey. Through the crackling emulsion and the haunting beauty of glass, I excavate the layers of my own narrative, interwoven with the tales of a nation evolving.
Art, for me, is not a passive act but a dynamic engagement with the world. It is a means to channel the complex emotions and experiences of my upbringing, an exploration of identity and connection. Each image is a testament to the resilience of memory, a dialogue between the past and the present, where the echoes of Colorado mountains resonate in the contemporary hum of Americana.
In this marriage of old and new, I invite viewers to journey with me—a visual sojourn that transcends time and space, encapsulating the spirit of a moment frozen on glass, painted in shadows, and etched into the collective consciousness of a modern America.