On site
On Site is a long-term visual study of Adkins Arboretum that showcases its unique and varied landscape. Using a blend of early photographic techniques and contemporary practices, I captured impressions of the landscape throughout changing seasons during an artist residency from 2019-2021.
Adkins Arboretum is a sanctuary, a meditative and restorative place that is the only site in the Mid-Atlantic focusing entirely on plants native to the area. Spaces like these are essential to fostering an understanding and appreciation of our natural world. Throughout the pandemic, Adkins even further revealed itself to be a refuge, a place to connect one’s body to nature. On Site aims to bring focus to Adkins Arboretum through an artistic lens, translating an environmental space through transformative methods of photography.
During my time working at Adkins, I found a unique book in the herbarium collection. The handmade scrapbook from the first half of the 20th century contains local plants and specimens, donated to the Arboretum. It belonged to Mrs. Salome Garey Somers, who collected items from Garland Lake, Caroline County, MD, where she lived her whole life, from 1881-1960. I photographed and created digital negatives for each page, which were turned into Cyanotypes under the summer sun, honoring Mrs. Somers' love of nature.
Along with using methods of alternative photographic processes, I documented my visits with a digital camera, archiving the changes in the environment as months passed. These images display the breadth of colors and textures that one can see, as well a look at the structures and mechanisms that work to run the Arboretum.
Through visiting and making work at Adkins, I got to know the wonderful people who work and volunteer there. To include them in the project, I made portraits of several individuals at their favorite places at the Arboretum. These images became Anthotypes using a photographic emulsion made out of Pokeweed berries collected from plants growing around the site.
Lumen prints are made with silver gelatin paper, sunlight, and time. I’ve refined my technique with the Lumen process to have artistic control over the outcome but that also embraces the unexpected. My visits to Adkins always included long walks and explorations of its grounds. I made Lumen prints at several sites around the Arboretum with a variety of plants and organic materials from each location. These unique prints are reflective of the landscape as well as my experience with it.
