Paragliding in Chamonix

Speaking of France...Two years ago, I traveled to Chamonix in the French Alps to celebrate a change-of-decade birthday.  The town sits next to Mont Blanc. We took the tram to the top of the mountain, and at 12,000 feet, it is chilly even in the middle of summer.  Even with several layers we were still freezing.

One of the highlights of the trip was paragliding off the mountain.  We took off from the midpoint of the peak on the other side of the valley.  After laying out the parachute, my guide, Eddy and I began.  His instructions were to walk and then run toward the edge of the mountain.  As we neared the precipice, I was getting a bit nervous, especially as I was running full tilt into thin air.  Not to worry, we were airborne, and for 45 minutes, I soared between the mountains.  The only sound was of the wind whistling in my ears.  We could see the town of Chamonix, Mont Blanc and the glacier where we had been earlier.  It was magical.

My Own Tour de France

As I read about the progress of this year's Tour de France, I am reminded of my first bicycle trip in France--and no, it was not the Tour de France, far from it.  I signed up for a 2 week trip in the Loire Valley bicycling from town to town, chateau to chateau.  Not only was it my first bicycle trip to France, it was my first bicycle tour ever.  It was a no frills trip--no van back-up, no fancy hotels.  We carried all our gear in panniers attached to our bikes.  I had little training, but I did have a sense of humor.  I was assured by the tour leaders that the sense of humor was the most important ingredient in my training regimen.

As we rode a modest 40 miles a day, we forged thighs of steel.  Each day we faced at least one monster hill that challenged the best of us.  We survived all that pedaling and arrived in Paris for a few days before the Tour riders.  As we stood with hundreds of others on the Champs Elysees, the cyclists sped by, a blur of colored jerseys.  I couldn't make out who was in the lead, they all seemed to pass at once, but it didn't matter.  I was in Paris and I had successfully completed my own tour.  What could be better?  Well it got better, but that's a story for another time.

InterAction: An Exhibit of Mixed Media Cyanotypes

The Kingston Gallery is featuring my work during the month of July. The gallery is open 12-5 Wed. to Sun. There is a gallery talk on July 24, 2011 at 3:00 with refreshments to follow.

The intention is not to depict nature but to interpret the sensations and memories that it leaves. This work is about time, aging and memory. It looks at the mystery and allure of nature; its patterns, rhythms and harmony. Energy and dissipation, growth and regeneration are the forces that shape the natural world, creating tension and duality.

This series starts with cyanotype images of a cross-section of a log. The rings that are revealed chronicle the life of a particular tree. Superimposed on the tree ring is rust from found objects. The iron oxide interacts with the cyanotype in unpredictable ways creating richly layered and tactile images. Shadows add depth creating mysterious and ethereal images that explore the elemental and sacred. The shadows may resemble smoke or be reminiscent of burnt offerings.

A tree ring is digitally photographed and printed in cyanotype, a 19th century, non-silver alternative photo process in which an emulsion is painted on a paper or fabric surface, exposed to light and then developed in water, turning blue. Twenty first century digital technology meets 19th century photographic technique. Iron Oxide interacts with cyanotype creating new, unpredictable layers, transforming the original print.