BE passionate joyful euphoric intense desperate present ALIVE

 

The inspiration for this project came to me one afternoon as I watched my son play with his toy bus. I was trying to follow the fantasy racing through his three-year-old mind, as he intensely played with a yellow plastic box and armless figurines. At least that’s what I saw. He saw a thriving community rushing to catch the 77 local bus to Australia. He frantically jumped in place, mouth agape and slapping his knees, joyously reacting to a world I couldn’t see, but one nonetheless powerfully present for him. As we get older and wiser, what happens to this enthusiasm, this ability to be wholly present in the moment? Why are these pure moments of passion so often replaced by cynicism, boredom, and indifference? As I played with my son, I thought about creating photographs that would show the world as if through the fantastical eyes of a child. The people in the images would be alive and in the moment, celebrating all aspects and emotions of everyday life.

Shortly after playing “bus”, I attended a performance by the Paul Taylor Dance Company, and I knew immediately I had found my collaborators. Asking dancers to embody these ideals makes perfect sense. Dancers are storytellers. They’re trained to personify passionate moments, their bodies imbued with a stunning combination of artistry and athleticism. They create a fantasy world, offering us a deeper look into familiar settings. They bring to life what we feel but are unable to express physically.

The dancers were eager to join me in my quest. In the photographs that we’ve created together, they take aim at Manhattan and at its iconic landscape. They energize everyday situations, dancing in crowds and rejecting the notion of a cold and impersonal city. Flying high and bending low, they celebrate what most people seem to ignore, bringing light and life to ordinary moments. Onlookers are sometimes fascinated-- laughing, gawking in disbelief, and getting caught up in the excitement. At other times the dancers go unnoticed, rejoicing in the solitary moments that so often define life in New York City. Nothing in the fantasy I’m creating is too small or unimportant-- eating, shopping, sleeping, commuting, working, playing, cleaning, dating-- passion, intensity, and humor permeate each activity.

Since those early days, I've traveled around the country and photographed hundreds of dancers. The process of producing the images is organic; created through a spontaneous collaboration with the dancers. The resulting photographs are unaffected and not highly stylized. The essence of the subject material parallels the current state of our society, where people are finding an appreciation of smaller, simpler pleasures. The images are infused with a humor and joyfulness that make the viewer feel good. The carefree nature of the work is a welcome antidote to the persistent anxiety that defines many people’s lives.

I’ve created these images for my two children, who are everything to me. There is so much I want for them. My hope is that they will live long and healthy lives, find loving partners and fulfilling careers, and experience the joys of parenthood. Most importantly, I want them to be free from self-consciousness, to discover the deep happiness of impassioned lives, and to find the serenity to be truly present. These photographs communicate my dreams for them more powerfully than words alone-- relish moments large and small, recognize the beauty around you, and be alive!