In this highlight of the Atelier 33 exhibition, we interviewed Marc Goldring about his current collection, Vision of Trees. Marc’s work, on view in the Griffin Main Gallery until March 26, 2021, documents the sculptural forms of trees and the stories that theses ancient beings can tell.
Which of these images was the impetus for this series? How did it inform how you completed the series?
© Marc Goldring – Two Trees
I walk around Jamaica Pond just about every day and generally walk past an amazing beech trees and two glorious sycamore trees. I have dozens of shots of both of those trees and I’ve been honing my ability to capture what I see in them. Most of my work tends toward abstraction – enigmatic images where you need to look long and hard to understand what you’re looking at. The image called “Two Trees” was the first time I really was able to create an image that worked in that way. After that, with the impetus of Atelier, I worked to flesh out a series, some of which are more narrative and portrait-like than my work usually is.
How has your photography changed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I’m still interested in the same sort of images that always attracted me but I have so much more time to work that I’m spending a lot more time shooting and processing. The other shift is that I don’t print as much – jpegs are the name of the game more often than not. Thing is, you can get away with a lot more with an image on a screen as opposed to paper! So I think it’s made me be a bit more adventurous in my post-processing.
What do you hope we as viewers take away from viewing your work?
I find these ancient trees inspiring. They live slow lives which I imagine allows for greater intention and reflection, at least it would for me, if I could slow down! I would like people to look more carefully at trees, at the ways in which our human lives intersect and interact with trees and the rest of the natural world.
© Marc Goldring – Tree by the River
I started out shooting to supplement the narrative reports I wrote on my consulting projects, working with arts organizations. Mostly people shots and the odd interesting perspective to make the reports less dense with words.
It’s only been 4-5 years since I stopped consulting, that I’ve really focused on themes and series of images that work together as a group. Much more challenging, more fun!
© Marc Goldring – Sycamore
Tell us what is next for you creatively.
I have several on-going projects, one of which is this portfolio of trees. I also am working on a series of shots of my grandson with whom I hope, once again, I will get to spend a great deal of time with. Beyond that, who knows!
Find more of Marc Goldring‘s work on his website and on his Facebook.
