Symmetries
The Princess of Serendip
51" x 59" H
The power of water is beautifully demonstrated in the slot canyons of Arizona, where the rocks are carved into dramatic shapes and then illuminated by the distant sun. In this composition, I aim to defamiliarize the natural contours of these canyon walls, yet paradoxically bring out their curvilinear essence through creative tension between the representational and the abstract. Employing the vehicles of symmetry and superposition, I take my photographs and use these canyon curves to create my own composition; one that conjures up a new world, yet still evokes the memory of that mystical experience of traversing the canyon. When will I return?
Avenging Angel
53" x 43" H
On the border between Arizona and Utah, wind-driven erosion cycling over eons of time has carved deep, sensual curves resembling a furrowed field into ancient sand dunes. I photographed these sandstone etchings under a harsh, midday light that beautifully exposed the original ridges. I then extracted elements from many photographs of these ancient grooves, reassembling them using rotations and partially broken symmetries to create my own composition. I strove for a creative tension between the scenic and representational on one hand, and geometric and abstract on the other. The effect, I hope, recreates the inner enchantment of the trekker when she first encounters this magnificent area of nature’s terrible beauty.
Desert Rose
40" x 63" H
Ice Maiden
33" x 50" H
I photographed these sandstone etchings on the border of Utah and Arizona in the winter of 2009 under harsh midday light that nicely exposes the originally horizontal ridges. Over the eons, wind-driven erosion etched these grooves in ancient sand dunes, producing sensual curves as of a furrowed field plowed by an errant tractor. I extracted selected etchings from many photographs and joined them employing rotations and partially broken mirror symmetries that defamiliarize the natural landscape yet paradoxically bring out their natural curvilinear essence. I strove for a creative tension between the scenic and the representational on the one hand and the geometric and abstract on the other. The effect, I hope, represents the inner enchantment of the trekker when she first encounters this magnificent area of nature's terrible beauty.
Into the Abyss
54" x 45" H
Shaman
45" x 32" H
Blue Ghost
48" x 57" H
Metamorphosis
54" x 32" W
Barking up the Wrong Tree
54" x 46" H
