Meghan Crandall
Artist Statement
I try to imbue my assemblage photographs with a hint of scientific aesthetic, like specimen plates documenting the artifacts and plants from a moment in time, something you might discover tucked away in an old wooden flat file.
Wherever my wanderlust takes me, I'm always on the lookout for odd and unnoticed treasures. I’m drawn to how the simple pieces we may find on a daily walk speak volumes about our culture and environment. Discarded human-made objects encroaching and inevitably integrating with the graceful creations of nature. I focus on harmoniously combining these artifacts to paint an honest portrait of our landscapes today. My hope is that these photographs will encourage people to appreciate the power of nature, slow down and notice the little things, and contemplate the enormous importance of maintaining balance in all areas of life.
Exploring is my muse, but as the pandemic and upheaval in the world continued through 2021 my appreciation for what could be found at my doorstep deepened. I continued to gather flora and flotsam on road trips, walks and hikes, but as the year progressed I shifted my focus to botanical details and transformations in my own backyard. This new set of assemblage photographs, created over the year 2021, is especially reflective of the changing seasons. Making and capturing them helped me pay attention to fleeting moments and be grateful for the constant energy and intrigue that nature gives, unique in each season and geographic area.
The temporary aspect of these compositions further pushes the concept of inevitable change. Once I have created and photographed an assemblage, I return the organic pieces to nature and dispose/recycle the litter, making the photograph the only tangible record of the composition's existence.
Meghan Crandall | Seattle, WA