When I Close My Eyes
Rebecca: I’ve long admired Lynda’s work from a quiet distance. Her beautiful Texas brings a peace to my restless urban Texas heart. Her images are the Texas of my dreams. The desolate, deserted and decaying Texas I hope someday to find myself living in. For now I live in the hectic, ultra modern and americana city Texas. I live through Lynda’s images and long for my quiet future. Take a slow Texas stroll through Lynda’s gallery. Mosey along and image yourself kicking the rocky soil in the blazing Sunday sun.
Keep dreaming…Happy Sunday.
Lynda: In August my husband and I took a long road trip from our home in rural north central Texas to the California coast. This photo was taken in Utah at Capitol Reef National Park. All recent landscapes have been from this journey west, and not my usual Texas and Oklahoma scenery. The mood though is very typical of the solitude I attempt to evoke in all my images.
Several months ago I became aware that I have a couple of themes running through my work. It was not something I planned, but it is there and I think it speaks to who I am as a person and an artist.
My work is deeply personal and often self-reflective. Many of the images can be considered self-portraits although you will not see me in the image. You will rarely see a figure in my work. I particularly identify with structures, especially old rundown buildings. Each detail of a building is a private internal dialogue with its own iconography. I am often drawn to explore the same types of things like broken or covered windows, or views through a small opening. All of these details have a meaning for me and the nuance of each similar image adds something to the conversation. It is my way of trying to understand myself, knowing my own mind.
Landscapes also figure prominently in my work. For me, they symbolize a longing for connection to spirit. I like to photograph desolate empty landscapes and wide open spaces because I feel the most solitude in these places. When I am alone and quiet I can more easily feel connected to something greater than myself. As I edit these landscapes, I frequently return to that meditative place of connection. They are my remembering, possibly a kind of prayer.
I find these two themes work together since many of the old buildings I photograph are well on their way back to nature. Many of them are completely broken down and covered in vines with trees encroaching. Sometimes birds or animals have moved into the building. I find it strangely comforting and humbling to remember that nothing lasts forever. We are all on the path to becoming a memory and eventually not even remembered. This may be a depressing thought for some, but I find it a great motivation to enjoy life.
Please go look at Lynda Martin’s incredible gallery on Instagram @imageconjurer. Its well worth your time.
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Congratulations, Lynda and Rebecca. Thank you, L, for sharing your artist perspective. I feel like I know you a bit better now. I have always found your images evocative. both a sense of beauty loss and gained; a meditation and conversation. and a grounding. Wonderful work, Lynda, and thank you Rebecca for having such a keen eye.
Great description of your photography Lynda! I really enjoy hearing an artist so clearly articulate their vision and their passion. Thanks for sharing.