Artist’s Statement
My daily ritual is to walk several miles in the forest, watching and listening, trying to capture in light, color, and form in what I see. I have a special affection for wild creatures, especially birds, whose colors, shapes, and poses captivate me, and I have worked hard to identify the birds around me even through their songs. Through my work, I want to share the many faces of nature, the wildness of spirit, and the interplay of light and shadow woven into the tapestry of the natural world.
Usually, when people ask me to take their picture, I say “I don’t do people,” but there are exceptions, such as when the subjects are just as captivating as birds and animals. Such was the case in Kyoto, Japan in October 2022, when I was lucky to be front row on the packed sidewalk for the yearly Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages). The ornate historical costumes reminded me of the incredibly varied plumage of the birds I search for. In this set of photos, I have tried to honor the interplay of color, light, figure, and shadow deep in the urban “forest” of downtown Kyoto.
I was flattered when Ron Caplain, photographer and collage artist extraordinaire, invited me to do a collaboration with him. Both having spent a lot of time in Japan, we share a keen interest in things Japanese, having been inspired by the people and their art. It is in that spirit that I shared photographs and found art from Japan with Ron. These images became part of the collages at the center of our exhibit.
