Statement

cairn studies

A cairn is traditionally defined as a heap of stones piled up as a memorial or a landmark. They are often encountered along highland trails, helping those traversing the land to find their way. The meaning of other cairns can be more ambiguous, as they are constructed to memorialize a passing or a significant event without text or explanation.

In either case, their creation is an act of reverence. Reverence for the past as well as the continuing journey. I am drawn to the resulting duality, as these markers resist the transitory nature of life by defining place – yet their beauty also lies in their temporal existence.

Using a different medium, I consider these same concepts in the creation of these images.