"There is magic and 'alchemy' to be had at every step"
The photographs in my “Beautility” series describe encounters with the built world that seek to draw attention to both the innate/intentional and serendipitous beauty found (in abundance) within the everyday world.
Items and tableaux that are overlooked by many hold tremendous interest—and hide complex narratives—if we take a moment to unravel the evidence. Practical objects (pipes, electrical fixtures, hardware and heavy machinery), purpose-built and often elegantly rendered, undergo transformations over time. They are painted, placed, organized into patterns, and exposed to the elements. All of these manipulations—again, some deliberate, others “random”—serve to create new shapes, patterns, and projections that can evoke strong identifications with our own experiences and our projections onto the objects and arrangements.
I’m called to wonder about the machinist who tooled this sprinkler valve. About the designer who chose to paint it such a funky shade. About the people who stick their gum to it. About how its shapes and shadows call to my subconscious and convince me to transform it into a mythical beast or a human face. There is magic and “alchemy” to be had at every step, and by looking closer, the opportunity to co-create across generations.
