Seeing
Photographs, pen and ink, hand-made paper, pine
2014
It takes time to really see. Seeing is in itself an art. Perhaps that is what art is, the crystalization of a vision. — Mary Jean MaillouxAn urban wetlands exists next to a bike trail I often ride. It's a good place to stop for a break, to look at the waterfowl and turtles, to enjoy the shade provided by cottonwoods and willows. It's quiet there, perfect for reflection. It was during one of these reflective moments that I started to think about looking and seeing. How were they different? When does one go beyond looking and actually begin seeing?
This book arts project doesn't attempt to answer these questions. Rather it was a chance for me to try to see beyond what I typically saw at the wetlands. I did this through the use of a camera and a telephoto lens. This allowed me to experience pond waves in a whole new way. The blue-gray surface came alive: colors and patterns emerged seemingly out of nowhere. I was seeing...or at least seeing differently than I ever had before.
Production notes: This project consists of photographs of waves mounted on paper, which was accordian folded and nested inside a hand-made box. Quotes about the art of seeing run along the bottom margin. The finished piece is exhibited on a custom-built wooden shelf.
Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing. — Camille Pissarro
It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. — Henry David Thoreau
The project fits into this box, with hand-made French marbled paper
Close-up of project and stand
a sampling of the pond photographs...
