Artist Statement

Several years ago Jim Fowler told me “take photography", after I asked him how to travel the world and do "as the natives do"?  He hesitated for a while and then looked me in the eye and said "take photography".   Shortly after that meeting, I returned to college as a non traditional Student and began my journey studying what I had always loved, photography.  I first became comfortable with the world around me photographing landscapes both natural and urban.   Eventually turning my journey inward I moved my family to North Carolina to research my family's origin.  I became obsessed with Southeastern Native Culture and found Powwows fascinating.  With Powwow photography I see regalia as works of art in themselves.  Adorned with feathers or ribbon, or the claws of a rapture, you never know what you might see on a powwow dancer.   The Powwow dancers remind me of exotic birds with divine plumage dancing to attract mates with swift moves and expanded breasts. Although I admire the fancy footwork of the dancers, the regalia is what brings me back year after year to photograph the Powwows.  I want to not only honor the dancers but respect the hard work and craftsmanship that goes into construction of their regalia with my images.