New "Gravel Mounds and Such": A Vibrant Night Subseries

My encompassing meta-series since 2013, Vibrant Night, mainly explores nature areas and nearby places in Texas at night and its border zones. It’s composed of “subseries” (like Richard Misrach’s “cantos”) and often has studies within them. Using tinted lights during long exposures and creative post-processing, I most like transforming the ordinary, ignored, or even “ugly” into the magical. Conceptually, the work offers a metaphor for “cognitive reframing” (ie., the psychological concept of seeing things “in a different light.”) Since many folk find gravel piles unattractive, this subseries and related especially captures my work's transformative aspect and its underlying concept of “cognitive reframing.” In context with other art, one might consider it an unusual take on “human-altered landscapes” or even a virtual form of “land art.” Overall, as in Edward Burtynsky’s work on industrial subjects, the irony between beauty and the risks-vs-benefits of what is depicted can foster discussion. My work reflects my hope that, with increased wisdom and foresight, a healthy and aesthetic environment can coexist with the true material needs of our civilization. That is one way to live life “in balance.”