The Genius of the Place
The Genius of the Place - unintentionally brought together two bodies of work that I made in the summer of 2023. While editing for an exhibition that fall, I experimented with layouts for both projects and realized that through sequencing the two into one, a more compelling narrative could emerge. The marriage of these projects presents a disjointed and haunting story about the physical sense of place.
The Landscapes on Their Own
When I began making ambrotypes of historical Philadelphia parks, the images were intended in be included in a friend's book, but I soon realized that there needed to be more tension in the images. As a maker who uses historical methods, I find it critical for there to be something to butt up against, either visually or conceptually... There must be reasoning for methods. I began to experiment with the wet collodion and the use of my own hand on the surface to create, intentional light-leaks, blurs and smudges. By making these gestures and movements in the photographic materials, I complicated both the photographic process and the picture-plane.
The Portraits on Their Own
The studio portraits are reinterpretations of a character from a contemporary children's illustrator. I sought out my female models, both in the world and on line. The only criteria was that their faces were bathed in freckles. All wore the same flower crown, and a neutral expression. I kept the distance and vantage point of the camera in the same position will all portraits, to aid a larger themes: the performance of feminine identity in American culture and universal experience of looking and being looked at.