Prima Materia

Water and deep green woods are major themes in this project. The reflective capacity of water and the fertility and growth represented by the lush greenery symbolize the evolution of this family. Jessica experienced a death within herself years ago. This was then followed by a gradual transformation and then rebirth, fostered by her acceptance of her experiences and accountability to her actions--allowing them to shape her into the strong, determined mother she is today. "Prima Materia", a term used often in Jungian psychology and alchemy, refers to the "chaos and raw material from which the refined substance, or 'gold' is produced". Here, Jessica underwent the raw and painful crisis of destructive relationships and behaviors. Surviving it all, she reaped from her experiences a seed that guided and fed her path towards a stronger sense of self and dedicated motherhood. I hope to return each year to reflect Jessica and her family's continual transformation in my photographs.