Antarctica

I had the opportunity to travel to Antarctica in December 2022. While on location, I was struck by the massive landscape and history of this part of our planet. I came home with work that reflected my inner conflict, feeling both excited to travel to such a place of raw beauty, seemingly untouched by humans while also processing the guilt of entering a space as a member of the species that has caused so much damage over a relatively short time. These images tell the complicated story of how we relate to planet Earth, the highs and the lows of our relationship, and coming to terms with our future.

Walking On Cloud Nine

The concept of "cloud nine" meaning to feel at the highest peak of happiness derives from the first edition of the International Cloud Atlas published in 1896. The atlas classified various clouds, making the billowy cumulonimbus cloud number nine on that list. These clouds reach the highest heights on our planet, they became synonymous with the feeling of elation. This image was captured on an expedition in Antarctica, a location known for inspiring a sense of awe and wonder. Walking amongst these clouds in such a special place was the epitome of this phrase. Part of the human experience is the ability to feel uplifted and inspired by nature. We are healed and restored by it, and because of this, I continue one of the oldest human traditions of creating art inspired by our planet. 

The Past is Calling

This image was captured on Deception Island, an active volcano with a dark history of whaling and fur-sealing. These creatures were slaughtered for human profit to near extinction over 100 years ago. Our ecosystem still suffers from that impact today. The island feels eerie and haunted as the stories of such terrors from mass theriocide echo in the volcanic mist. We need to take a hard look at how we continue to exploit and abuse Planet Earth. Profit is not prosperity. 

Whispers of an Iceberg

I fell in love with an iceberg. It was floating overturned, exposing its smooth underbelly carved from the saltwater currents and colored with algae. I was charmed as I listened to the sounds of air bubbles escaping their icy traps. This painterly scene also told another story, one that was anything but enchanting. This iceberg was one of many melting rapidly due to the climate crisis as the Arctic is warming three times faster than the global average. Although an iceberg is not alive, it does have a life cycle that plays a role in the ecosystem, impacting the entire planet. I'm back home, thousands of miles away from where I took this image. Looking at it now, I remember beauty but I see the disturbing reality of how “natural disasters” are not so natural.