Dahlia by Angela Crews, Alumitype
Artist Statement
As an artist, I have gravitated towards photographing the landscape, my surrounding environments (large and small) and discovering how the hand of man has had a negative impact on our wild spaces. With classical training in photography, my choice to use traditional film and 19th century photographic processes (wet plate collodion, dry plate negative, cyanotype) have always been paramount in my work. I enjoy the art of process. The alchemy of mixing and handling the chemistry and having a hand in the creation all aspects of the artform is important to me. And, as a nod to my predecessors in the history of photography, I want my work to be as compelling and move people to notice the everyday things in the same way my heroes in the field helped me to do.
Focusing on the loss of authenticity and “-ness” (as in Wester-ness) in our Colorado towns, the delicate and short life of flowers reminding us Memento Mori, and the impact of man on our open spaces are all subjects that inform my storytelling. I have long-term projects where I enjoy exploring new routes to add to an existing body of work. These three main topics continue to be of great interest and research as I map out my next moves. Telling the story of our landscapes and wild spaces, remains for me, an effort to ensure future generations discover and revel in the importance of their adopted lands.
