May 2023 - ongoing: “Thank You, For Your Service?” is an exploration of memory. Culminating into frustration, anger, and violence that leads to the emotional withdrawal and physical stress from service experiences. Within this series are collaged 4x6 photographs taken deployments and four years in service. These images are arranged into fragments of dreamlike recollections, a longing for combat and a yearning of self-worth. With manipulation of burning and cutting of various images to collage into displays of nuance recollections. These recollections are a view into goals never achieved, training for a war that will never see the fruition of experiences. Facing the transitional phase of being thrown out into a world after the military, memories now haunt you with regret and self-doubt of never realizing your full potential to come to terms with seeking out a purpose. It is my hope that this could be an ongoing project; in terms of exploring new ways to present the images in dynamic and anamorphic ways that could allow the viewer to experience the images in a more immersive fashion. As well as self publishing the images in photobook format. A major goal is to be able to be recognized within the photobook community and have the confidence to submit to Aperture's photobook prize. Submit to gallery such as 303 Gallery in Chelsea, NY, nail the ideas effectively enough for presentation, and have the materials to create more unique prints that reflect the project effectively.
