We were honored to host @anjaniemiphotography As an artist in residence.We just received some of her beautiful images.What she captured here at camp is part of a larger project called The Naturalist.One of photographs will hang in the camp artists cabin to add to the collection of works made by other artists who have completed residencies with us.We encourage you to explore this extraordinary talent at anjaniemiphotography.com. Represented by @theravestijngalleryAbout the project : As with many of Anja Niemis projects, the artist herself appears inA Naturalist Guide to Magic self-cast as the lone actress in a typically enigmatic role. This time, though, Niemis character is by no means the leading lady; theres a sense instead that nature is the projects protagonist, its living landscapes and sentient spirit overwhelming her presence more than ever before.In one image, a white cowboy hat the sole trace of a human hand floats past a desert backdrop, as if carried by a swirling wind. In another, weeds creep gently across a manmade pathway, slowly threatening access to a wooden jetty stretching out on a silver lake. Elsewhere, a band of charging horses gallop freely through a grassy plain, unbridled momentarily from the expectations of their owners.Whilst the characters that Niemi designs and embodies often follow a trajectory of transformation, the arc of this latest role closely echoes the artists own reality. Having bought a horse a few years back, Niemi soon encountered a problem of connection. Her pre-conceived visions of the relationship theyd share fell drastically short, leading her down a winding path of soul-searching. In trying to become attuned to her horses needs, to communicate with him somehow as well as to better understand the energy she emanates Niemi sought knowledge from a wide range of sources. The process gave her new appreciation for the natural world, with the endeavor to communicate with non-human life forms opening countless new doors.As was essential to Niemis recent journey, the images inA Naturalist Guide to Magicdemand that viewers become conscious of natures subtlety.

May 27, 2024 • Published by Tereasa Surratt • Instagram