PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN

ELEMENTS: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire –

Fraying at the Edges

 

In my travels, I have witnessed the impact of climate change. From the scars left by timber cuts and charred remains of forest fires in the western United States, the devastation caused by tornadoes in the Midwest, and the battering of shorelines when storms ravage our Great Lakes. Close to my home, the loss of a beloved wetland due to encroaching urbanization. These experiences inspired me to create “ELEMENTS: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire – Fraying at the Edges” to create awareness of climate change as not something happening far away, but happening in our backyards.

 

To quote Margaret Mead, “We won’t have a society if we destroy the environment.” My hope is we understand what we are doing before it is too late.

With these images, I combine my two passions – sewing and photography – to create a digital photograph enhanced with texture from stitching and other materials. After selecting the image, I spend time reflecting on the final composition. During this time of contemplation, I make decisions about how to achieve my creative vision letting the uniqueness of the image determine how I will embellish it. Each work has texture; some have movement from loosely hanging threads and some have shine from metallic threads. Each image is unique and one of a kind.

 

With this body of work, I invite the viewer to have a tactile and alive experience with the image and leave with a deeper awareness of the challenges we face as stewards of our fragile earth.