"Somewhere in Middle America" in the most basic sense, is a project about the 400 and 500 blocks of Keech Avenue, an examination of my immediate surroundings. Bordered on one side by Michigan Stadium and by Almendinger Park on the other, both entities play an important role in the identity of the neighborhood. We have literally thousands of visitors come from all over the country to visit the stadium and participate in the American ritual of Big-10 College Football. People also come from all around town to visit the park and participate in activities there. Visitors to both places inevitably end up passing through Keech Avenue.
My photographs depict this street and the people that inhabit it- both the ones that live here and the ones that visit. Some I know quite well, others are complete strangers. Overall, the work tells the story of a community that is holding on to a vanishing way of life. It is about a group of people living quite literally in Middle America- geographically, economically, politically- at a time when our notions concerning what this means are quickly changing. Having shunned the constant call of the "suburbs," we live in a small neighborhood close to downtown. Here, the passing of time is defined as much by the rituals we collectively participate in as by the months on a calendar. This work is a celebration of and possibly a eulogy to our way of life.
]]>I chose photogravure as the medium because, as an etching process, it has the ability to render the image closer to a pencil drawing than a photograph.
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]]>My photographs pierce the traditional veil of domestic privacy by scrutinizing the specific personal belongings found in my subject's homes. The things in my photographs belong to my subjects, but by looking through my lens and the inherent imposition of my interests, beliefs and stereotypes, they may experience them as if they are another's.
]]>My paintings invite the viewer to experience new and emergent spaces.
I use rhythmic circles, sweeping lines, and vibrant colors to illustrate a perpetually changing environment.
Technically, I like to display all the decisions made during the evolution of a painting, so I leave visible the paint's texture and other marks. These are essential signposts to experiencing the painting's development and my creative process.
At this point, I want to explore these spaces by experimenting with new palettes, adding more spontaneous elements, working larger, and learning more about different conceptions of space.
]]>This image is part of a larger project titled Room Temperature which consists of images of objects and places that represent similar observances of relative successes and failures.
]]>When I photographed these birds I approached them as if I were photographing a human being; granting them the same importance and attempting to highlight the individual personalities of these sociable birds. I find each bird has an air about them; be it proud, shy or bemused, there is always something which is added to by their colorful appearance-- giving the feeling that they are wearing their Sunday best.
Yellow Canary #1 is part of an ongoing series. I plan to photograph many other varieties of show birds, such as canaries, budgies, finches and love birds.
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