Seeking Elysium

Seeking Elysium is a photographic series that renders the apotheosis of two early adolescent females. As they begin to walk down the road to womanhood, we have ventured to capture moments that dwell within the personae of the gods. These images are sometimes blurred and foreboding in an effort to show the duality of power and helplessness utilizing the myths of the Greek goddesses Persephone, queen of the underworld, and Artemis, goddess of wild. Together, we have begun to create a narrative of these mighty girls as they attempt to help humanity and endure their personal struggles expanding the context of their known histories. The stories we tell utilize the sparse details we are given in our brief encounters with these two secondary goddesses, to define a personae that we then explore within a broader contextualization of the characters. The images are presented in a historic Hellenistic format; gestures are exaggerated, lighting is dramatic and locations originate in some of the nation's most majestic and extraordinary landscapes as imagery was conceived and created with the backdrop of several national parks. Some images are familiar, and elements are drawn from our working knowledge of the characters within the confines of the mythologies. In addition, we sought to address more timely challenges. Artemis, in her role as protector of the wild finds herself on a journey to conjure, distribute and collect the precious resource of water. Persephone, as she reconciles her new life in the underworld, struggles with isolation, mental instability, and escape as she works to find balance in her new roles. This ongoing series is a playground to encounter both morality and narrative in a true Homeric style, that will hopefully endure the test of time.