Artist Statement
Four years ago, I began to explore the concept of imagination.
Initially, I was most intrigued with small children and their make-believe. I photographed them in their play environments. I gave minimal direction, wanting their narratives to unfold without interference. They had complete say over toys, dress-up clothes, settings and hairdos.
As I gained their trust, I began asking them to show me their most prized possessions. These were talismans, held dear since their early years. As I ventured deeper into this idea, I began wondering if older children and teens still attached special meaning to objects from their early days. I found it to be true. It has been intriguing to create portraits of these treasures and learn their history. The closed-eyes portraits evolved, in a way, to “show” what imagining looks like. The faces of these children with their eyes shuttered evoke for me a sense of the private, hidden self where imagination dwells.
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