Artist Statement
11 prints (8 copper-plate photogravures, 3 IRIS prints, plus 20 Stereo-cards) — 2003
The Limestone Barrens Project offered me an extraordinary opportunity to escape the studio and immerse myself in remarkable, understudied natural environments. Photographing these barrens across two continents became an enlightening journey of geological, botanical, and cultural exploration.
My approach centered on patient exploration, wandering through these spaces and absorbing their subtle essence. I carefully observed intricate details and delicate traces of human presence that often dissolve within the expansive landscape. To visually capture the complexity of these environments, I employed three distinct photographic formats. Panoramic views documented the broad context of the landscape, frequently including my own feet in vertical compositions to establish a personal connection. Using copper-plate photogravure, I transformed black and white images from literal representations into textured objects, printing them on heavy paper with rich ink. Complementing these monochromatic studies, color stereo views offered a three-dimensional spatial experience of the same environments and their nuanced details.
The most profound revelation of this project was understanding that these seemingly austere landscapes are actually vibrant ecosystems teeming with life, history, and rugged beauty. Through my images, I sought to transcend literal documentation, creating visual narratives that are emotionally resonant—rendering landscapes darker, more fragile, or romantically evocative. My longstanding fascination with surface textures, erosion, and natural transformation deeply informed my artistic approach. While no artistic representation can entirely recreate the authentic experience of these barrens, these prints aspire to redirect viewers’ attention to the extraordinary potential and subtle magnificence of these exquisite places.