lim·i·nal
relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process.
occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.
I began this body of work by taking a walk. I do this on a weekly basis, every Sunday. On these journeys to and from the church I attend, I experience many small, insignificant moments. These moments occur when I’m walking to church, while I’m exploring nature, and in my everyday life. This body of work, Liminal Space, was created to capture the small moments on my journeys where I feel most connected to something larger than myself. There have been many times in my life where I feel disconnected to my faith, the people in my life, and my greater purpose. To this day I still face these struggles when it comes to my Catholic faith.
No matter where I am along my journey, these special moments haven’t left me. When I am lost in the beauty of nature or walking down the street, there are things I notice that make me appreciate where I am in my life. These are everyday, insignificant things that end up becoming an anchor. And it is these everyday things that I believe we can all relate to in one way or another.
Liminal Space was photographed with 35mm film in order to keep my focus on the moment, instead of striving for a perfect digital image. Through this work, I have been able to make peace with my personal faith— it is okay for my faith and journey to not fit into a perfect, pre-prescribed box, and to have questions, doubts, and difficulties with my faith. I have chosen to hang the work in a manner that reflects this, by using differently-sized frames, with most of the images frameless and without borders.
Though I have struggles with my own faith, there are many who have had unpleasant or damaging experiences with organized religion, through no fault of their own. Through this body of work, I am creating a space of contemplation, connectedness, and non-judgement, where I hope some can think of their connection with the divine in safety and peace—no matter what they consider to be divine. By documenting my experiences, I am seeking a Liminal Space. This space is open to all, safe, and in-between any particular religion or creed.