Timeless Truths

Life is a journey that transcends time. History and storytelling are themes I explore in my artwork using photography, linocut printmaking, painting, and graphic design. The series of mixed media pieces I created for the Rebel Rebel exhibition features portraits from my collection of “rescued” Victorian era photographs. Each piece was inspired by a hymn composed in the early 1900’s.

I have been archiving family photos and documents for many years to preserve the history of my Mennonite pioneer ancestors. The stories of my ancestors are fascinating to me. History is full of famous individuals whose accomplishments and knowledge have helped shape the world, but I also believe the experiences of everyday people from the past are valuable and important to document.

Antique photographs are enduring historical artifacts. Photography has recorded and preserved the images of countless individuals since it was first developed in the early 1800s. The roots of our modern obsession with “selfies” can be traced back to the early days of photography. “Cartomania” was the Victorian trend of collecting and displaying photograph albums. Visitors would gather in the parlour and flip through the album. Portraits were made for the same reasons we take photos for social media today - to share images and experiences with friends, family, and new acquaintances.

For the past year I have been collecting portraits that I find in thrift stores, auctions, and antique shops. Displaying the photos of these lost souls who have been separated from their families and descendants was the inspiration for this series. The men, women and children in the antique portraits experienced love, suffered losses, and overcame struggles during their life journeys. I am intrigued by their untold stories.

I may never know the real stories of the people in these portraits, but I pay tribute to their lives through my artwork using lyrics from hymns, symbols, colour and texture. Hymns were written to share simple, inspirational spiritual messages. Historically, hymns were sung to not only to worship, but to unify the congregation through song. My hope is that the my “Timeless Truths” series will give new voices to the strangers in these photographs and encourage viewers to explore the stories of people who have come before us.