Confluence/Franklin County Biennial 2010
Sara K. Lyons
In October of 2010, the photograph below was juried into the Franklin County Biennial exhibition. The exhibit was located at The Gallery at Hallmark in Turner's Falls. This particular image comes from a body of work that continues to grow along with my children. See additional images, The Recorder coverage, and an artist's statement below.
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| The Recorder, Arts & Entertainment, September 23, 2010 |
"If you look at a picture of two of Franklin County's many rivers coming together; it's easy to see how that represents a confluence. But how about an assemblage of materials...or a picture of a sprite-like girl seemingly trapped under a porch?....How do these represent confluence?"
––Arn Albertini, The Recorder
I am endlessly fascinated with the upward struggle of my own children as they try to make sense of the world. In spite of living explosively close to their own birth dates, I often sense they have access to a hidden wisdom that guides them through the tumult of growing up. The only evidence of that inner perception, or the perceived confluence of childhood innocence and adult experience, has been exposed in my photographic work.
To an extent, I prefer to eschew some of the technical, mechanical aspects of photography in favor of simple tools and the use of available light. In this way, I aim to capture moody glimpses of what I consider to be private, almost secret moments. As a mother, often grounded in the present demands of nurturing my children, I am driven to explore and hopefully elucidate the idea that these moments are in fact a portal to their future.
Working with capricious subjects in addition to keeping my photographic practice loose and unfettered provides numerous variables and unpredictable results. This adds an element of surprise to my process that sustains my desire to conjure evocative images.
