As a rite of passage, many cultures practice "vision quests"
or dream-time in the wilderness as a way to tap into sacred
mysteries, ancestral wisdom and personal power. During a vision
quest, one chooses to be alone, unsheltered, unaided within the
natural elements - in other words, deeply vulnerable. During our
present history-making times, vision quests in the desert are being
pursued with an even greater urgency in the region surrounding my
remote Death Valley studio. Individuals of all ages, genders,
socio-economic classes, races, and philosophical beliefs seek to make
sense of a confusing stew of political and social rhetoric,
alternative facts, and the bombardment of questionable information
delivered through suspect sources. Even my studio practice has become
a quest for vision of sorts, as I attempt to make sense of miniscule
influences that ripple and magnify into monumental impacts.
