Return to Earth 2024
Screenprint, Blind Embossed Wood Type 8" x 10"

This print started as a digital photograph taken at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine. Digital manipulation was used to separate the image into 3 colors that were then printed as photo positives. The positives were altered with some hand drawing and a 4th layer was drawn by hand. During the exposure process, where the positive is transferred to the photosensitive screen, I used some found objects to create shapes within the hand drawn 4th layer. Each layer was hand printed, as you can see above (right to left). After the ink had (mostly) dried, I set up some wood type and embossed the text “RETURN TO EARTH” on each print.

My approach to this project was to embrace the moment and try to not plan to far ahead. Of course some decisions need to be made to keep things moving but I really tried to leave room for change at every step. At the beginning I just knew that I had this photo that I would screen print. During the digital separation I decided on 3 colors then after I was satisfied with that I added the 4th, hand drawn layer. Right before exposing the screen I wanted to add some more solid shapes to the 4th layer so I grabbed what was on hand (rubber bands and paper clips) and added these to the photo positive. Each other layer got some hand drawn elements to help break the hard edges of the rectangular photograph. When it came to printing, I mixed inks by eye, responding the previous color I put down rather than trying to reference the original photo. At the end of the screenprinting process the image still felt incomplete to me. I thought of perhaps adding another screen printed layer but ultimately decided to add some text. So, I rummaged through my largest type and contemplated on the image, trying to think about what it meant to me in the moment I took the photograph and what words could convey that. The wrapping roots of the tree along with the moss consuming the grave stone. The murky ink obscuring the landscape. The transformation of light reflected into a sensor nearly a decade ago, stored as magnetic dots, transferred as electric charges, spat out as ink onto film, distorted by markers and office supplies, pushed through stencils. Dead trees carved in glyphs and pressed into the fibers of dead plants. Every step of the way degradation, decay, entropy but also an effort to interpret and solidify a moment in time. I’m still not sure what it all means but there was something in that moment of taking the photo and something in the moments of creating these prints and I’m glad I captured it before it all returns to the Earth. Thanks for taking a look.

Printed with water-based ink on archival paper 

Made for the 2024 9IN HAND PRESS International Print Exchange