“Living on the Edge” Artist Statement
My Series “Living on the Edge” captures the harmony that exists in that curious space where wildlife intersects with our urban world.
At a time when we continue to distance ourselves from the natural world, the edges of our communities push further into nature. Animals living in the wild move closer into our backyards. Beauty and mystery reside in this place of integration.
When walking a path at nature’s pace, I see the beauty of life revealed in the details: the grace of a wing, an isolated radio tower enveloped with birds - minimal details reduced to their essence in black and white. These images speak of stillness. They share a quiet contentment. I believe it is in this space that we find peace.
The simplicity of a hand-held 35mm film camera allows me to become an intimate part of the world unfolding in front of my lens. 3 3/4” x 5 1/2” images on 8 x 10 selenium toned, gelatin-silver paper is my preferred presentation size for a more intimate viewing experience.
The works in this ongoing series can be produced as hand-crafted fine prints or presented to a broader audience through publication as well as utilizing contemporary fabrication processes for public art presentation.
“Joanne has a body of work that she has been working on for 18 years - her life’s work. These small, simple photographs of animals (mostly birds) are printed as traditional gelatin silver prints. The sensibility is resonant of the work of Masao Yamamoto or Michael Kenna…but the work is different enough and comes from a different place (figuratively and literally). The series grows and changes, but is a finished body of work - well-edited and ready for exhibition.”
— Amy Miller, Executive Director of Atlanta Celebrates Photography. ACP NOW! Amy Miller’s Update from Houston’s FotoFest International. March 27, 2012