Forest Portal
Exhibit at Harris Harvey Gallery, February 2021
Available
In 2019 I began weekly treks to the wild places in Washington state. Every Saturday I would search out solitude looking for and finding out of the way trails. The more remote the better. In these weekly adventures, I would take hundreds of images on my digital camera, so small and lightweight compared to my 5-pound film camera. It was freeing being able to capture anything that struck my fancy, without having to be mindful of the expense of buying and processing film. I indulged in shooting both grand vistas and intimate details and textures, really anything that gave me joy and delight. It was a deeply meditative experience, being fully present within the environment. I would typically walk 15-20 miles, spending every daylit moment on the trail, from before dawn to (sometimes well beyond) dusk.
I began sharing my experiences online and was overwhelmed with how much they resonated with others. Everyone loves the outdoors, though not everyone has the time, inclination, or ability to do so. Eventually I had an idea for making art out of the immense treasure trove of images I had compiled and these pieces are the result. Deeply meditative, I call these portals because they provide a glimpse into what I love most about nature.
These are cellphone prints which have been mounted to circular panels, with encaustic and India ink applied. Razor blades provide a way to scrape and smooth the surface while also allowing mark making which is revealed after the ink is applied. It’s a way to add hand-drawn elements and make something unique and analog out of a digital medium. Finally, I use steel wool to burnish the surface and remove excess amounts of ink.
