It’s a steamy Monday morning here in Cabin Country, Minnesota. At first glance, this looks dreary, but find the peace this dew-covered window gives. Mother Nature grabs my attention again and gives me something to see that I haven’t paid attention to in the past. I give thanks for simple blessings like this image. I find beauty in the storm; I find my inner peace.
Early in 2022, I was out with friends having dinner and I put my mirrored glasses down on the table and loved the reflected image. That sparked the idea that I would do this on my travels and create a new collection of “Reflected” works. The below image is filled with bright colors, shallow depth of field, and of course, no photographer reflected in the image. This you must stand in just the right place to avoid “capture”, LOL. I do most of my work in camera, so this has little editing down in Lightroom.
The Ashininaabek people used the Mother Bear as a landmark and tell the story about how she came to be there. Long ago, along the Wisconsin shoreline, a mother bear and her two cubs were driven into Lake Michigan by a raging forest fire. The bears swam for many hours, but soon the cubs tired. Mother bear reached the shore first and climbed to the top of a high bluff to watch and wait for her cubs. The cubs drowned within sight of the shore. The Great Spirit created two islands to mark the spot where the cubs disappeared and then created a solitary dune to represent the eternal vigil of mother bear.
These images reminded me of the gulf coast just minus the salty ocean air.
I watched as morning fog kissed the landscape, slowly burning off showing Lake Michigan’s beautiful teal-blue waters. While I was exploring Sleeping Bear Dunes, I had the story above playing around in my head; carefully documenting the landscape with both color and infrared cameras.
Sleeping Bear Beach
Photozaic statement:
How can I construct an image that moves beyond the surface? Photozaics, of course!
My award-winning Photozaics are inspired where Van Gogh’s textures meet Ansel Adam’s simplicity near the intersection of Bob Ross’ healing vibes. This technique is a labor-intensive multi-step process and starts out with my journey into nature; recording the landscapes that spark my eye may it be rolling hills or a babbling brook. After modifying the composition, I take the print and head to the stained-glass shop to find matching colors. I cut the glass by hand taking smaller shards, and placing them in a rock tumbler to remove sharp edges while larger pieces are sanded by hand and assembled the frame. Grouting finishes the artwork allowing the detail of each cut glass shape to add texture to my art.
Art heals the mind, body, and soul. Research has shown a correlation between participating in cultural activities, like Crafting, visiting art galleries, and attending concerts have increased rates of good health. By creating Photozaics, it is my hope to connect with you through a multi-sensory mixed media presentation that tickles sight and encourages your touch.
I’ve been busy in the studio creating more photozaics, some are as new as my recent trip to Michigan earlier this summer. I love traveling to new places and note to all you New Englanders, I’m heading your way on October 8th and will spend the month of October in your area. I can’t wait to see what New England offers an Artist… Stay tuned.
Also Gallery owners in New England area, I will have samples of my photozaics to view in person please reach out to me at nmcguirestudio@gmail.com to set up a time for personal viewing.
Sleeping Bear overlook sleeping bear overlook IRSleeping Bear BeachWolf n BearPoplar n PineWhite Daisies
16×20 metal Frame only- Crissy Beach Digital infrared bnw photograph
Price $499.00
Crissy Beach
Sometimes you just need to surrender to the scene and get pulled into the wonders it has to offer your senses. That is what happened to me when I came upon this boardwalk while walking the beaches in San Francisco’s Marina District. The boardwalk pulls me to the water and my eyes circle around the remnants of old docks, Sausalito, and Alcatraz off in the distance. I can still smell the salty sea air and hear the foghorn sounding off warning ships of the bridge when I look at this photo.
Crissy Beach Crissy Beach framed with satin black metal frame- anti-reflective Plexi glass with acid-free matting.
