No Labels

The symbolic art portrayed in this series has only one subject. She graciously allowed me to photograph her in her natural element after a stint in rehab. The energy between us was one of spontaneity and creativity. While in this process, it got me thinking about the stigma attached to mental illness. Salvador Dali, Paul Gaugin, Edvard Munch, Jackson Pollock, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Sylvia Plath had something in common. They experienced life in duality. Traits such as being open to experience, exploratory risk-taking, and tolerance to ambiguity made them see and feel and understand more. But they also hurt more easily and so were more prone to experience suffering and dark moods.