In my photography I explore historical, environmental, and personal connections to the land. Typically, I build tabletop dioramas out of everyday materials, crafting these fabrications as an elaborate still life meant only for the camera’s lens. Once constructed, I use lighting to dramatically transform these tableaus, bringing to the surface hidden truths that belie our understanding of the natural world. It is this visual tension, the uncanny and artificial nature of the photographs, that calls into question the permanence of our surroundings and hints at the dramatic shifts our environment is undergoing.

As a native of the Great Lakes, I have turned my gaze toward our inland seas, examining the fragility and resilience of this complex ecosystem. These artificial landscapes, created from paper, charcoal, and translucent glycerin, reimagine the edges of Lake Erie and its tributaries in a visual homage to a horizon that has captivated me for three decades. The resulting photographs hint at the ephemeral nature of the lake ecosystem and lead one to ponder the realm of loss in the face of pervasive environmental threats, while also offering a moment of reflection and a renewed discovery of the natural world.

A continuation of the Vanishing Shoreline series, this new collection focuses on the dramatic coastal erosion that has intensified as storms increase and natural protections for the shoreline vanish. The photographs in this series show fallen trees and sliding cliffs, as well as an expanse of vines, foliage, and overgrowth seen only from the lake itself. The images depict the precarious balance of nature and infrastructure in our battle with the climate crisis, and the beautiful, haunting, and somewhat secret landscape becomes a metaphor for both the potential and the failings of environmental action in the region.

 

WHY WE FISHED: POP UP EXHIBIT OF WORKS BY MICHAEL LODERSTEDT | MARCH 4 – 26, RECEPTION 5-9 PM MARCH 4

LORI KELLA: THE EDGE OF THINGS | APRIL 1 – MAY 14
RECEPTION 5-9 PM APRIL 1

 

PHOTOCENTRIC
15515 Waterloo Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44110
216.219.7568