My art focuses on discovery of found imagery through Pareidolia, Greek for 'finding meaning in the random' -- like in Rorschach tests. It is a metaphor for the overlooked. Wherever I walk, I see hidden in plain sight stories and characters that go beyond the traditional "I see faces everywhere."
Fantastical figures and otherworldly landscapes appear out of random inanimate textures like tar, snow or efflorescence, with a mostly neutral color palette. Human condition themes of overcoming struggle, being alone, friendship, connection and questioning personal identity are expressed in my work. Many of my photos are self-portraits, revealing my different states of mind and philosophical thinking.
Images of streets and trees, artificial and natural worlds, celebrate what we often walk past or step on. With minimal post-processing, cropped subjects are unaltered and often ephemeral. In moments, they can change or disappear by a gust of wind or a person’s foot.
This work has led me to discover and explore the free association of the early Surrealists, the dreamlike and emotive abstraction of Minor White and Alfred Stieglitz, and the found imagery of Aaron Siskind. All challenge the reality of and appreciation for what and how we see.
By opening our eyes and minds to seeing differently, we can be more present and shift habitual perspectives.
