Artists’ Statement

Lydia Krauss, Asa W., and Laura Krauss

Waters & Water

As humans we often choose to live near water: salt and fresh. Water moves. Water is a unique shape changer: liquid, solid, and gas. Water carves and shapes land edges. Water flows into emptiness and levels itself. Water carries us down rivers, under falls, and across oceans. Water provides many life-giving basic needs: scrubbed air, pristine snowflakes, drinking water, washed food, washed dishes, washed laundry, washed cars, and our squeaky cleaned bodies. Water has a spiritual dimension not met by any other element: i.e., Christian baptism, Jewish mikveh, Islamic wudu, Hindu bathing in the Ganges River and Indigenous full moon ocean dipping.

We, three photographers, are gifted with different waters. Laura, the tidal ocean shore of Southern California. Lydia, the interiors waters of Southeast Alaska. And Asa, the ancient meandering South Platte River, Colorado.

We all used the same simple camera and film. The Debonair has an f/8 plastic molded lens with three zone focusing options. We used 120mm black and white film.

We represent three life stages: recently retired, beginning a professional career, and midway through elementary school. We are biological and chosen family members. We relished a joint project and collaborating together.

The results, we believe, show three different perspectives:

-       ASA – youngest generation – raw, motion,

unfiltered stimulus

-       LYDIA – middle generation – zoom in, focus, textures,

details

-       LAURA – first generation – whole picture, context,

built systems.