Photographed through sheets of ice, these images freeze time,. Each piece a unique lens, the ice reveals, conceals, and distorts scenes the way our memories do, the way our minds create narratives out of the unstoppable flow of life events that demand but elude explanation.
We all crave coherent stories, with beginnings and endings, and compelling arcs that explain the journey. But the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves are never "the truth"— they are created out of bits of memory scattered across the brain and reassembled every time they are recollected. And like a game of telephone, they change with every repetition. These images and short narratives do not illustrate a preconceived narrative. Instead, they distill telling moments, offer flashes of insight, and give form to dreams that invite viewers to find or create their own stories.
Narratives about the 1950s abound. Those that falsely romanticize them as a time of happy housewives and backyard barbecues are fueling our contentious politics and growing societal unrest. Like the worn and broken dolls they feature, these images embody the dark history of that era and give warnings for our future.
