Amanda Musick

Land Unfolding examines the natural environment and the ways in which a photograph can function to represent place. The dichotomy of artificial and natural environments is explored through using photographs taken in real landscapes to construct new, illusive vistas and forms.
Landscape collages in this series are created through a process of deconstructing and assembling multiple photographs to reconstruct another single view of the original landscape. All photographs are my own, taken from a variety of points within one geographic location. The prints are then used to hand-build a diorama that is rephotographed in its final form. Though they are new views of place, they are not imaginary. They refer to my individual, sensory experience of moving through the landscape and the artist’s perspective of doing so. These landscapes include iconic landmarks as well as lesser-known places to show that all are important and deserve our attention and care. The second life of this project are the landscape piles which are made from the deconstructed remains of the collages. The way in which these pile forms float in space portray a sense of loss, void, and skewed reality as if they are forgotten objects waiting to be thrown away or repurposed. The processes of deconstruction and reconstruction I employ speaks to our continually changing landscape as well as our attempt to preserve and piece it back together.

Holston River, Mendota, Virginia I

Maroon Bells, Colorado I

Folly Beach, South Carolina I

Big Bend National Park, Texas I

Laurel Fork Falls, Jocassee Gorges, South Carolina I

Arches National Park, Utah I

Big Rock Mountain, Nine Times, South Carolina I

Warrior's Path State Park, Kingsport, Tennessee I

Folly Beach, South Carolina II

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado II

Holston River, Mendota, Virginia I

Maroon Bells, Colorado I

Folly Beach, South Carolina I

Big Bend National Park, Texas I

Laurel Fork Falls, Jocassee Gorges, South Carolina I

Arches National Park, Utah I

Big Rock Mountain, Nine Times, South Carolina I

Warrior's Path State Park, Kingsport, Tennessee I

Folly Beach, South Carolina II

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado II