“The Enveloping Landscape: A Contemplative Photographic Journey,” started in 2016 as a project from documentary photographer Susan Patrice. Using contemplative photography practices and hand-built cameras designed to produce round images, Patrice captured the same 3 square miles of forest for two years, both in and around the Arboretum.
In 2020, Patrice was slated to offer a year-round workshop at the Arboretum in tandem with her own documentary photography project. Unfortunately, the pandemic forced that in-person, on-site program to morph into a virtual citizen photography workshop in which participants joined Patrice online, turning their cameras toward their most familiar surroundings. The resulting photographs were so moving in their honesty, vulnerability and subtle beauty that Exhibit Curator Ashlee Lanier designed an exhibition in celebration of the collective work.
On display at the Baker Exhibit Center through May 2, “The Enveloping Landscape” shows Patrice’s photographs alongside those of 25 workshop participants. Free with regular Arboretum admission.
