Virginia
This project came about in 2007 when I rented a cabin in the mountains of Virginia. While there, I wanted to explore the notion of “home” and what that means.
I immersed myself in my surroundings, taking long walks and thinking about connection. Connection to the land, connection to the past, connection to family..
I am always shocked by my visceral connection to the landscape of Virginia, even though it hasn’t been “home” to me for more than 30 years. The pull seems to get stronger the longer I am away. With this body of work, I am questioning and exploring that visceral response.
The cycles of growth and decay are laid bare in the South. Ghosts are present, other people’s histories are revealed. Life and death touch. There’s an overwhelming sense of what has come before; the present is fleeting.
These images were completed right after my mother died and so they are infused with feelings of grief and longing. Longing for a past, longing for a home, longing for connection.
