The project Elementals was conceived during wanderings in the woods where I often thought of members of my family who have passed. It is an homage to my ancestors as well as to the spirit of reconnecting with the natural world. I see it not only as a documentation of an intimate performance/installation, but as photographs that stand on their own.

The Cosmic Tree represents all beings in the Universe. Trees and leaves have deep symbolism in every culture and are often thought to be the home of spirits. Throughout my life I have connected with the magical within the refuge of the forest. As a soothing ritual during these times I began collecting leaves, bringing them back to my home and projecting old photographs of my family using the light of the projector as a lens into the past. The fragility of the leaf conveys the ephemeral nature of memory and life energy. Through these projections I saw an alchemical process occurring between the image and the leaf which brought forth unforeseen nuances of mystery and emotion.

Having primarily been a filmmaker for years, this work reflects my return to using photography as a vehicle of expression and contemplation as well as a shamanistic calling back to the spirits using light and the elements of nature. (2021)