honorable mention
Tori Gagne united states
title
Moonlit Dance
Moonlit Dance Series
The story of the horse has a long legacy in art, mythology, war, literature and more. My photographs intend to convey the many qualities a horse embodies; wildness, freedom, wisdom, power, connection, spirituality and to express the memory of this unique mark horses have made on the hearts and lives of humans. Humans have evolved side by side with the horse and forged a very unique relationship. I created this series to convey the horse in a more abstract magical dreamlike manner expressing the unique qualities the horse intrinsically embodies. I hope my images will spark a fleeting memory, story or dream.
My personal relationship with a rescued racehorse has led me into the unique world of the horse. The horse lives in a highly intuitive world of the senses, a world we don't often access as humans. To enter the their world you must be calm, centered and free of tension. This is a place where I am fully present and free of the trappings of daily existence. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to honor this remarkable creature through my art.
A portion of the proceeds from this work supports organizations involved in the protection and sanctuary of the US wild horse population which is currently under threat from many forces.
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entry description
Artist's StatementMoonlit Dance Series
The story of the horse has a long legacy in art, mythology, war, literature and more. My photographs intend to convey the many qualities a horse embodies; wildness, freedom, wisdom, power, connection, spirituality and to express the memory of this unique mark horses have made on the hearts and lives of humans. Humans have evolved side by side with the horse and forged a very unique relationship. I created this series to convey the horse in a more abstract magical dreamlike manner expressing the unique qualities the horse intrinsically embodies. I hope my images will spark a fleeting memory, story or dream.
My personal relationship with a rescued racehorse has led me into the unique world of the horse. The horse lives in a highly intuitive world of the senses, a world we don't often access as humans. To enter the their world you must be calm, centered and free of tension. This is a place where I am fully present and free of the trappings of daily existence. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to honor this remarkable creature through my art.
A portion of the proceeds from this work supports organizations involved in the protection and sanctuary of the US wild horse population which is currently under threat from many forces.
about the photographer
My love of photography began in grade school working with a pinhole camera and watching the images come to life in the darkroom. I continued to learned to photograph with my grandfather's Rolleiflex developing film in the darkroom my brother built in our basement when I was 12 years old. My brother, mother and grandmother professional photographers, and a painter respectively, influenced me in later years. I had a long career in garden design where I developed an eye for color, shape line, texture, design and form. I continued my photography studies later in life earning a BFA in fine art photography from Academy of Art University. in San Fransisco. I have a love of the abstract; blur, lines and movement are a thread running through my work whether it is representational or not. I also have had a love of animals from a very young age and later in life developed a love of horses. I am inspired by their power, beauty, grace, social life and the spiritual connection they provide to humans. They are great teachers, through them and my own rescued racehorse I have learned many invaluable lessons. I visit wild horse sanctuaries and Bureau of Land Management lands in the US to do some of my horse photography as well as other locations around the world. I donate 10% of proceeds from selling my equine work to organizations involved in the protection and education of the wild horse population in the western US.back to gallery