As the Shadows Move Across

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem of the Rocky Mountains spans twenty-two million acres across Southwest Montana, Northwest Wyoming, and Eastern Idaho. The region’s climate undergoes a grand transformation in winter. The vibrant colors and abundant life of the warmer months give way to a stark landscape dominated by snow-covered terrain and harsh weather.

Winter exploration on alpine touring skis in the Greater Yellowstone envelops me in a dichotomy of experiences - the intimate and the vast. As storms sweep across the big sky, I am both towered over by the landscape’s enormity and intimately connected to my partners. Seeking a balance between camaraderie with people and a sense of insignificance in the face of nature’s grandeur embodies the sublime. This journey prompts questions about human-importance and our place within the natural world.

As The Shadows Move Across uses the sublime experience to show the impact on our perception of self and surroundings. Through encounters with unknown terrors and moments of awe-inspiring beauty, my artistic practice is shaped by the connections forged in the winter mountains. In confronting our insignificance amidst the vastness of the Greater Yellowstone, I believe there lies a transformative power that can restore perspective and humble the human ego.