Monuments to the Dead
The intent of this ongoing project is to survey and photograph cemeteries, churches, and memorials to the dead.
Not knowing what becomes of the human spirit after death, people have been building elaborate memorials for thousands of years to honor and remember family members who have come and gone. The styles of memorials vary, depending on religious beliefs, cultural conformity, costs, and the individual wishes of the departed. Sometimes the choice was simply left to the custodians of one’s estate or a government to build a memorial in recognition for personal service to their country and community.
My photographs attempt to capture the strange and unique qualities these statues leave as a reminder of the loss and tragedy of people who have come and gone. Most of the cemeteries in the United States which I have explored have interned residents from the industrial wealth generated in the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. This period was a time of tremendous accumulation of private wealth that enabled families to spend significant sums to build memorials and monuments for their departed loved ones. These images reflect some of the sorrow, loss, and impermanence intended for 'eternal' remembrance.
Archival pigment prints, hand-signed and numbered limited editions available for sale. Inquire for availability.