Yesterday’s Camera Practice: Sideboard

Yesterday’s camera practice with stuff around the house.

Waiting Around in Tacoma

I had to drive down to Tacoma yesterday to pick up some giant cardboard sheets for my next gallery installation. I took these images while I was waiting for the forklift guy to bring my order around. A couple weeks ago I was talking to the photo tech at UW about my camera setup and the struggles I’ve been having learning the Nikon D800 — especially the fact that a lot of my photos come out slightly blurry. I know the standard rule of thumb is 1/60 shutter for handheld shots, but he told me the D800 is much more sensitive than that. I tried these images at 1/80. They look fine low res on screen, but I think even 1/80 is too slow for the D800. Next I’ll move up to 1/100 and see if I can get crisper images on that setting.

Today’s Artist Statement

My current work maps weight and time in relation to place and space. I use a variety of materials like string, flagging tape, paper, cardboard, liquid, glass, steel, and rock to make my mark. Each location where I create my installations is chosen carefully. I consciously sense a place through the act of meditation and living with it. The work I make is in response to the one-of-a-kind relationship I'm experiencing with each place at that moment. Once an intervention is complete, it is quickly removed. It becomes a memory of a relationship shared with the place itself.

The idea of "place" is important — what are the qualities of a location that make a person feel grounded? What is home? How big is it? How transient is this feeling—the feeling of belonging and of being a part of something bigger than oneself? I believe that having a sense of place is impermanent. The old cliché holds a lot of truth: "You can never go back home." But I also believe that it's possible to nurture, appreciate, and underscore these fleeting experiences. I do this with my art-making practice. 

A Rainy Day in the Seattle Suburbs

It’s a rainy day in the Seattle suburbs, but at least the birds are singing.

Signal Fire Residency: Campfires

These are some of my favorite fire images from my residency in Arizona with Signal Fire. A couple years ago, I started taking photos of our campfires. Now, I’m reenergized to continue this series. Deer Creek Canyon, Mazatzal Wilderness, Tonto National Forest, Arizona

Signal Fire Residency: Water

Here are some more images from my residency with Signal Fire. It occurs to me that the work from this residency revolves quite naturally around themes of nature: earth, water, fire. Look in earlier posts for earth, and stay tuned for fire images to come soon! Mazatzal Wilderness, Tonto National Forest, Arizona

Signal Fire Residency: Cairn Village

I just returned from a week backpacking in the Arizona wilderness. I was on a residency with Signal Fire, a fantastic organization that takes artists into the wild to think about the relationships between art and nature and landscape. Each day, one participant led a “deep play” exercise for the group. When it was my turn, I invited everyone to collaborate to create a cairn village in the riverbed. The whole process was meditative and mindful. We worked in silence, and then surveyed our work. In the spirit of “leave no trace”, I tore it down once I got the photos. I was conflicted, because despite the ideal of leaving no trace I’m drawn to the comfort that cairns bring. A cairn represents other human interaction, coming upon one indicates that I’m not lost. Even though I might be the only person for miles, there is a kind of conversation that happens through cairns between strangers and over time. There’s something really special about that relationship. Stay tuned for more images to come. Mazatzal Wilderness, Tonto National Forest, Arizona, USA

Getting the Hang of the D800

I’m making a little progress learning the ins and outs of the D800. I have some good models to practice on! #photography #dogs #chihuahua #mutts #nikon d800 1 note

Inspiring Artist: Bronwyn Oliver

Bronwyn Oliver was an Australian #sculptor. Her lovely, intricate globes and organic shapes make me want to get back in the shop! #metal sculpture inspiring artist art

My Dog, Running with a Stick

I love this photo of my #dog, Kala! She loves her morning run/walk. #dog #dog walk #chasing sticks #running

Inspiring Artist: Ruth Asawa

Ruth Asawa's delicate-looking metal #sculptures are tugging at my heart-strings today. I love this dichotomy between a material as seemingly immutable as metal and her intricate, lacy forms that exude a sense of fragility. #Ruth Asawa #art #metal #sculpture #inspiring artist