Semaphore                                             

2019 - present         

                                                                                                                       

Archival pigment prints

13” image on 17" paper, edition of 6

select images also 20" image size on 24" paper, edition of 3

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In Semaphore I examine the shift in my perspective after having been diagnosed eight years ago with Parkinson’s disease. Through images, I consider what it means to integrate this life-altering information into my sense of self. What does acceptance look like?

 

Post diagnosis, everyday items and experiences take on new meaning. New tasks top my “to do” list each day. Simple tools now present a challenge and uncertainty pervades the periphery. As I look around me, the branches of trees become networks of neurons. Acknowledging these signals facilitates the process of adaptation. Optimism holds the key for me right now. Light, always an inspiration, illuminates a path for me to follow. And I go.

 

Parkinson’s disease is the world’s fastest-growing brain disorder. Currently, over ten million people live with Parkinson’s worldwide. With Semaphore, I want to foster a greater understanding of the experience of living with Parkinson’s and encourage dialogue that includes the often taboo subjects of illness and vulnerability. While this project is relevant to the Parkinson’s community, it also connects with others whose journeys require growth, patience, and perseverance to move forward.

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In 2022, I published a book of this project with Kehrer Verlag. The book has 96 pages, includes 67 images, and an essay by Rebecca Senf, PhD, Chief Curator at the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona, in Tucson.