| Bill Guy Photographs: Writings on Art and Photography |
| New Stories: Eric Paddock and Mark Klett Challenge the Criticisms of Robert Adams' The New West |
| Introduction: "Contemporary thinkers like Gary Snyder, Carolyn Merchant, Eric Paddock, and Mark Klett, propose moving away from the 1960s and 1970s idea that people are ruining the landscape of the American West as characterized in Adams' The New West . They assert through their work that all landscape is vital--one type of landscape is not more worthy of preservation than the other. A Superfund site--defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as toxic to both people and environment--is just as capable of resonating with beauty as a national park. Eric Paddock and Mark Klett, through their photographic works, reveal a new cultural attitude that not only embraces the human presence in the Western landscape, but also treats the natural and the man-made with equal importance and sensitivity. The landscape, no matter what people have done to it, is home." |
| Written Thesis for MFA in Photography from Columbia College Chicago |
| * Download PDF |
| Finding Symbiosis: An Effort to Reconcile People and the Wilderness |
| Introduction: "The relationship between people, nature, and wilderness is complex. By further examining these terms and their relationship to one another, it is understood that people are natural and the wilderness still exists and is meaningful with people in it. Likewise, wilderness areas in the city can radiate with beauty and provide a sense of "being natural" for city dwellers. Once this is understood, an examination of photographs by Eric Paddock and Terry Evans provides visual evidence that this is possible in the world." |
| This essay was written for a graduate school class called Landscape, Space, and Place. |
| * Download PDF |
| Minor White and Photography as Spiritual Vehicle |
| Introduction: "For Minor White, God was visible in the tangible world and the camera represented a way to slow down and reflect upon this presence. Though the significance of Minor White's photography is debatable, his belief that photography could act as a catalyst to a greater awareness of God is rooted in a deep history of mysticism and should remain relevant in thinking about the potential of photographs." |
| This essay was written for a graduate school class called Issues in the History of Photography. |
| * Download PDF |
| Buddhism in Contemporary Art |
| Introduction: "Buddhism is a source of inspiration for many contemporary artists. Whether dealing directly with images of the Buddha, teachings of the Buddha, or images that are meant to create a moment of meditation and reflection, artists are finding that Buddhism can provide great inspiration for their work. From Nam June Paik to the 2004 Buddha Project exhibition held in Cleveland, it is clear that the Buddha is continuing to teach and enlighten through the arts." |
| This essay was written for a graduate school class called Contemporary Painting and Sculpture. |
| * Download PDF |