Floor Scrubbers

Silver Gelatin Print

“Apparitions” is a multi-year project that I am working towards, with my colleague and contributing artist, Arturo Pianzola.  The goal of the project, namely the summoning of human presence by images, is inherently a journey into recondite corners of the psyche.  It became obvious that the project required time to take form, and that it needed to be pursued, but not rushed.  We decided that several years would be required to adequately explore the subject – not only outwardly, but also as an introspective journey – to accumulate a suitable body of work.

At the time of this writing, we are about two years into what we expect will be a least a five-year project.  The images presented here at the Art Gallery of Alberta are a select few from the early stages of the project.  Perhaps more will be added over time. All of my images were captured on large format sheet film; self-processed and printed by traditional methods.

I feel that I have set myself apart from others not merely by shooting images of superior quality, but also by utilizing traditional monochrome analog methods. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, there is something to our approach that hints at the inevitable differentiation with other similarly minded efforts.  As the title "Apparitions" indicates the images will summon human presence in the eyes of the viewer.  As such, the images of remnants and things abandoned are not complete, but they conjure what is missing.  If one of these images is thought of as a window, then the view may be beautiful, poignant... but it is not whole.  The viewer must very carefully look at the pane of glass of this window and let it act as a delicate soft mirror.  It is a hazy view of the inside of the scene that slowly becomes clear.  Only then is the image fully realized.

A photograph is, by its very nature, the depiction of an instant. It becomes art when that instant translates into thoughts and emotions on the viewers’ part. Trying to capture with an image the ephemeral nature of an absent presence is a challenge. To see if I could be up to the task was an irresistible call, and motivation enough to embark on one of the most difficult artistic challenges to my photographic skills.  So is the challenge to create a unified body of work based on a concise theme.

To see the fruit of my efforts presented to the community, in the form of shows and publications, is certainly the major goal of the project. If I photograph, it is ultimately to print. Producing a silver gelatin print is not trivial. It is fair to say that I consider myself a good printer, but with this project I intend to bring every skill that I have to the table, and produce my finest work yet. 

My colleague Arturo and I both feel compelled to present our work and allow the public to experience our vision.  Indeed, our work only becomes whole when the viewer completes the story that we have alluded to.  Making some of the first pieces from the project available through Art Sales & Rental at the Art Gallery of Alberta, helps us to realize our goal.