The medium of photography demonstrates the fact
that light itself is not visible until it reveals something. I work primarily
with black and white infrared film, because it enables me to articulate
the contrast between illumination and darkness or soft and sharp and to
enhance a meditation upon the fleeting nature of the moment. This film
is sensitive to infrared light (not visible to the human eye) as well
as to the visible spectrum. Objects reflecting significant concentrations
of infrared energy will register greater density on the film's negative,
thereby causing that respective counterpart in the print to appear lighter
or more ethereal. The resulting shift in tonality emphasizes those dreamlike
or mysterious quali Íties I seek in my work.
In 2001, as part of a Cultural Arts Exchange, I
had the opportunity to work collaboratively with an artist from the Kinneret
region of Israel. This led to the creation of a permanent installation
at the Poriya Government Hospital near Tiberias. Together with my partner
in this project, I explored the local landscape and considered its historical
significance as it has related to both natural phenomena and conflicts
over thousands of years. Since then, I have traveled to Israel five more
times. The echoes from the past reverberate through my minds eye
and my soul in ways which I might have expected beforehand but could never
fully appreciate without actually being and working there. Bruce Feiler
has written about his similar experiences in his book "Walking the
Bible." My photographs in this exhibition are but a glimpse into
this awakening.
These photographs are printed from film I exposed
in January, 2003 ("Israel-03-3") and February, 2003 ("Israel-03-13").
|