Upon returning to California after many years of living back East, I now see its scenic beauty with fresh eyes. I have a sense of its dreamlike qualities and hidden spiritual essence as well as its aesthetic appeal. As I reconnect with California, I better understand why indigenous peoples around the world have believed that all the things that make up their natural environment are animated and alive. I can feel a life force in the plants, rocks, coastline, mountains, and deserts of Southern California. This series is an effort to explore and represent that palpable force that somehow connects humans with the elements of nature.
This body of work represents a departure from my prior art. Previously, I have exhibited black and white pinhole photographs, Polaroid transfers, mixed media constructions, and large format black and white scenic photographs. Unlike any of my previous work, in this work, I have digitally merged landscapes with human forms. The compositions include many anthropomorphic shapes that harken back to a tradition in 17th Century Dutch painting. For me, it captures the hidden soul of the place that underlies it’s obvious and profound beauty. I am celebrating my return to California with a new perspective, and a new technique.
These digital photo collages are printed on archival paper and face-mounted on acrylic. Each limited edition print is ready to hang, signed and numbered on the reverse side.
