Dark Optimism
In the recent years my life has been turned upside down. Without going into all the details, lets just say It’s flipped multiple times in a dizzying, totally disorienting way, but that’s a good thing. It’s allowed me to let go of a lot of attachments and fears. It’s shown me places I want to get back to and places I’d rather not ever go again. Amongst many personal and financial changes my physical location changed again last year as well. After always having a mountain in sight for nearly 17 years (14 years in Southern Ca, and 3 in Sedona Arizona) I transitioned to a flat straight horizon. No matter how hard life seemed prior, going out into my favorite trails cured everything and brought beauty and perspective back into my life. Now that was gone. It felt like another form of death. It felt like losing a security blanket as well. No longer living in the shadow of one of natures rocky mounds made me feel naked, and venerable. I quickly sought to capture both this feeling, and these mountains I missed so dearly in my work. I’ve gone through a roll coaster of emotions, and breaking down walls. I’ve released and let go of so much and yet know I’ve only scratched the surface. In the end, this body of work I’m presenting now is a direct reflection of my recent journeys both inside and out. I’m beyond any shame of my situation, beyond the fear of surviving it, and just kind of hoping that others out there might appreciate a glimpse of what I think so many of us are going through, but are unable to fully express.