XI
Le Printemps: Series Excerpt - April 21, 2026.
May 1st, 2026
As I prepare for another exhibition this July, as is typical, my eyes adopt a given filter as I scout the surrounding landscape. Elements that I have not seen before become apparent, what may have missed my notice only weeks before leap out of context and become all I can think about. Whether that be a 2D or 3D surface, a body, a living organism or a particular object/location, such as the abandoned well featured above; I find myself haunted by a given idea, until it is realized.
Working outdoors; an artist is at the mercy of the natural climate and the continual shifting of both content and direction. Patience and a willingness to be flexible are both integral skills when searching for a particular feeling within a given work. In this instance, I had been envisioning my own legs suspended in a handstand of sorts, however when it came to it, not only was the well nearly twenty feet deep, but the rusted metal bar holding up the stunning pump was unfortunately decayed to the point where she had lost her former strength and integrity. The top portions of a rusted barrel were holding the lot in place, so there existed a possibility of abrasions as well.
If I am perfectly honest; I still wanted to do it, but my assistant threatened to break my camera if I persisted in attempting what they deemed to be too dangerous. (I confess I can be a bit of a stubborn wild horse when I have my mind set in a given direction.) I sat down and took a moment to rethink the concept and, as always, the final result is a better composition than anything my attempts to control or plan out could produce. I did manage to pull my entire torso and head into the well, by suspending my arms on a small ledge a few feet down from the surface. It was both exhilarating and beautiful, both the experience and the final image.
My gratitude to Jay Cross for his wisdom and assistance with this endeavor. My inclination is to tackle absolutely anything to achieve a given shot, but as a single mother to four beautiful children on a full-time basis; there exists a need for preservation of the self for their sake.
I will be translating this image onto the canvas, as one of my feature works at this year’s Whyte Moth exhibit. Stay tuned for further details about this up and coming public arts event.
