Geometry

I had been photographing groups of people working together making movies, rehearsing plays and installing art in galleries and museums.  A friend introduced me to a couple who created installations with the idea that I might photograph them putting together the elements of their next show.  I was excited at the idea of seeing a couple work together, who had been working together for some time.  I was looking forward to being able to watch the subtle non-verbal communication between these working partners.

Of course they divided the work according to their interests and their strengths and almost never spent time together.  I put aside my expectations.

John Phillips did most of the painting.  My photographs were of what became a kind of underpainting.  The paint divided the walls into triangles and rectangles of brilliant color.  But most of John’s art was hidden at this point as it involved creating sound and light projections — those would come later.

Carolyn Healy had designed the shapes and chose the colors that John was painting.  While I was there she concerned herself with the sculptural elements.  She fitted large square ceiling fixtures with colored gels.  She laid metal panels on blankets and knelt on the floor to polish them.  I made many photographs of her hands working the beautiful metal.

My experience of Carolyn and John’s installation was of them making it.  The book Geometry tells a story of John and Carolyn’s process through the filter of my own.

Geometry made in an edition of 3. 10 x 15 inches. Archival ink jet prints mounted on stonehenge paper, museum board ends, bound with mylar jacket. 2009