Ras al khaimah fine arts festival
Two months ago, I was invited to be the artist-in-residence, cultural ambassador and featured photographer representing the United States at the Ras al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival in the United Arab Emirates. (https://www.rakfinearts.ae/) The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Discover Your Nature’.
I continue to feel shocked, humbled, thrilled, incredibly grateful and not entirely convinced this is reality. But, in a little over a week... I'm off on an adventure, according to my plane ticket.
My collection of photos will be featured at the opening weekend of the festival – February 2nd and 3rd. They are printed in large scale on di-bond aluminum and post-festival will be donated to local establishments to remain on display. After opening weekend, I’ll have the chance to teach several workshops and engage with other artists at the festival, local university students, K-8 students, and a group of prisoners.
Beauty is all around us in the form of our natural environment. Humans are inseparable from nature, though we often lose sight of this interconnectedness. If we are open to it, nature can be a powerfully uniting force in the world. I approach this opportunity with an open heart, a great deal of excitement, and a strong desire to seek out new connections with artists representing many countries and learn about the ways people from all around the world connect with nature, often through art.
Of course, I also cannot wait to meet the birds, other wildlife, and landscapes of the UAE. I’ll spend nine days after my residency exploring as much as I can. I will be so excited to share photos along the way.
I’m forever grateful to my Kate Bass for mentioning my name to the right person many months ago, Gary Stallsworth for his critical eye and his patient and helpful suggestions, and to the awesome community of humans I have around me who support me in my creative endeavors.
Below is my curatorial statement for my display, which I have called “Moments of Awe” and the collection
of photos I’ve chosen to share.
Life is a wild ride, and I love it. As Daniel Harro would say: It’s all time.
___________
‘Moments of Awe’
We often speak of music as the universal language. Nature, it seems to me, is the birthplace of human music. Nature does not acknowledge human boundaries or borders. Aside from our own mortality, it is the single thing we all share - the natural environment from which we are inseparable. From the smallest raindrop to the largest mountain vista, you can stand in awe of nature each day, letting your own nature fill you with a sense of wonder. These photos offer you a glimpse into my small corner of this world – of moments that have left me standing in awe. I share them with an open heart in the hope that together we might approach nature with curiosity and unite in the different ways we see this world as wondrous. My gratitude to the US Embassy Abu Dhabi, American Voices and Al Qasimi for the opportunity to share my work at this RAKFAF festival.
46° N 122° W | 6:06 AM | July 18
(Pumice Butte - Mt. St. Helen’s National
Volcanic Monument – Washington)
After a cold night
the sun comes back, and with her
the mountains’ slow breath.
41° N 71° W | 12:56 PM | November 29
(Marsh Meadows Wildlife Preserve -
Jamestown, Rhode Island)
The grass moves with grace.
A subtle rustling
in the tranquil wind.
45° N 122° W | 11:44 AM| November 9
(Japanese Gardens – Portland, Oregon)
Open your eyes now.
Tomorrow is not promised.
Seek beauty daily.
41° N 71° W | 3:40 PM | December 30
(Narragansett Trail – Rockville, Rhode Island)
World in a raindrop.
Perfection it is to see.
I stand full of awe.
61° N 149° W | 12:25 PM| March 26
(Potter Marsh - Anchorage, Alaska)
In freezing water,
carefree with his majesty,
he cleans his feathers.
45° N 122° W | 1:54 PM | April 25
(Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge –
Ridgefield, Washington)
Tiny chickadee
attends wholly to her world.
Nothing beyond her.
71° N 156° W | 1:15 a.m. | December 29
(Utqiagvik, Alaska)
Dancing aurora.
Humbled by its light,
I drop to my knees.
45° N 123° W | 8:39 AM | June 2
(Ecola State Forest – Oregon)
I wander to seek
that which can only be felt.
Forever curious.
45° N 122° W | 1:30 PM | June 14
(Forest Park – Portland, Oregon)
Foxglove bathed in dew.
I admire your elegance.
You sparkle and shine.
58° N 135° W | 1:31 PM | October 19
(Japanese Gardens – Portland, Oregon)
This is the path for
all creatures that allow it:
turn and twist and turn.
60° N 149° W | 5:03 PM |August 4
(Devil’s Pass Lake - Chugach National
Forest - Alaska)
Purest reflection.
Song of the marmots we hear.
My home fills my heart.
45° N 122° W | 2:54 PM | August 19
(Gustavus, Alaska)
Tiny dwarf fireweed,
bravely you grow roots in rock,
thriving against odds.
58° N 135° W |3:36 PM | August 21
(Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska)
Bear grass in muskeg.
Unique boreal forest is
radiant in sunlight.
45° N 123° W | 5:22 PM | February 9
(Cannon Beach, Oregon)
Long before humans
there was this exquisite land.
Its beauty endures.
45° N 123° W | 2:20 PM | February 10
(Cannon Beach, Oregon)
Ripples in the shell,
matching ripples on the sand,
delight my spirit.
61° N 149° W | 4:18 PM | August 29
(Chugach State Forest, Alaska)
Lush is the tundra
that is your beautiful home,
warrior mushroom.
41° N 71° W | 7:10 PM | September 8
(South Kingstown, Rhode Island)
The moon awakens
and bathes the sleeping siege of
herons in her light.
45° N 122° W | 5:42 PM | September 19
(Norman Bird Sanctuary – Newport, Rhode
Island)
White-eyed vireo
moments before your flight.
What sights will you see?
45° N 122° W | 5:42 PM | September 19
(Sauvie Island, Oregon)
Tandem rainbows shine
as a field of sunflowers
smiling, greet the sun.
45° N 122° W | 9:30 AM | October 27
(Forest Park – Portland, Oregon)
Thread footed,
quietly you mend the world,
repurposing death.
