I am a taphophile at heart! The vast majority of my work is a reflection of my penchant for cemeteries and the macabre. Along with exploring the many cemeteries in the Portland area, any time I travel I always try to make it to a local cemetery - they are the perfect places to get away to think, to wander, to explore, and to learn. I hope that my work can reflect the beauty of these often shunned treasures and shed a softer light on our relationship with death.
Where applicable, I include the tribal names of the Indigenous peoples who lived in the areas I photograph before white settlers moved in and took over those lands, by including the tribal names with photos I post on social media.
Land Acknowledgement:
“Every community owes its existence and vitality to generations from around the world who contributed their hopes, dreams, and energy to making the history that led to this moment. Some were brought here against their will, some were drawn to leave their distant homes in hope of a better life, and some have lived on this land for more generations than can be counted. Truth and acknowledgment are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage and difference. We begin this effort to acknowledge what has been buried by honoring the truth.
We are standing on the ancestral lands* of the Atfalati, Chinook, Cowlitz, Clackamas and Kalapyua People’s. We pay respects to their elders past and present. Please take a moment to consider the many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement that bring us together here today. And please join us in uncovering such truths at any and all public events.” - usdac.us
*includes the Portland Metro area only, for a more extensive list please check out https://native-land.ca/