Whistle Stop
March 16 — April 22–2023 — Margaret Thatcher Projects — New York City
visit: Thatcher Projects website
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In railway terms, a Whistle Stop was an unscheduled destination, or a point along the train’s passage reached only upon request. Whistle stops were places that may have otherwise been overlooked, end points off the beaten path, their fascinations not widely known. The subjects central to my work, like a whistle stop, might not be immediately attention-grabbing from a speeding train. However examining them, even repurposing them, can reveal nuances rich with meaning and significance.
Humans have always sought to control nature via industrial progress or agricultural innovation. The architecture in my work is, at its heart, purposeful, built to perform a fundamental function, such as the storage of water or grain. By looking for beauty in these prosaic structures, I find that unplanned stop in the journey and uncover the unexpected soulfulness of manmade objects.
My work is meant to evoke a dreamlike vision: at first glance, the picture seems sharp and detailed, but as it comes into focus, it lacks specificity that informs you where you are and when. A particular location or composition evolves, through improvisation, into a picture that invites the viewer to fill in the gaps, to recall personal experiences and to infuse each piece with their own memories. I prefer MEANING to be varied and personal; it belongs to the artist, but then it belongs to the viewer.
