Freedom
Image from 2023. Printed on archival quality paper.
“When I look at this image, it makes me think of two things:
The first is freedom. In the USA we have a freedom to buy and carry guns as we see fit. It's not a stretch to think that a child could get ahold of a firearm and cause self harm either intentionally or unintentionally. If I were to see a kid with a realistic looking toy gun on the streets of America, my first reaction would definitely not be to take a picture - I might try to stop him, try to get his parents attention, call the police, or frankly, hide.
Here in Spain however, people enjoy a freedom from guns, where a child can play like this and no one bats an eye. It would never cross the mind of a resident here to be afraid of gun violence when venturing out into the world. That to me is freedom. Freedom from fear.
The second thing this symbolizes to me is the need to kill the child within our psyche, or rather kill the power it can have over us if not recognized and dealt with. I'm not saying anyone needs to destroy the aspects of themselves that invite play, wonder and creativity, but some of us, myself included, suffer from some negative aspects of the inner child including feelings of inadequacy, destructive coping mechanisms, aversion to discomfort, indecision and lack of drive. It's actually a bit strange I captured this image at this time, as I have recently been becoming more aware of these traits within myself and how they can control how I behave. Doing inner work sometimes requires sacrifice and has painful moments. However, becoming aware of all the aspects of our personalities can allow us to reach our potential and become more whole which can lead to a more fulfilling life.”
-May 2023
Image from 2023. Printed on archival quality paper.
“When I look at this image, it makes me think of two things:
The first is freedom. In the USA we have a freedom to buy and carry guns as we see fit. It's not a stretch to think that a child could get ahold of a firearm and cause self harm either intentionally or unintentionally. If I were to see a kid with a realistic looking toy gun on the streets of America, my first reaction would definitely not be to take a picture - I might try to stop him, try to get his parents attention, call the police, or frankly, hide.
Here in Spain however, people enjoy a freedom from guns, where a child can play like this and no one bats an eye. It would never cross the mind of a resident here to be afraid of gun violence when venturing out into the world. That to me is freedom. Freedom from fear.
The second thing this symbolizes to me is the need to kill the child within our psyche, or rather kill the power it can have over us if not recognized and dealt with. I'm not saying anyone needs to destroy the aspects of themselves that invite play, wonder and creativity, but some of us, myself included, suffer from some negative aspects of the inner child including feelings of inadequacy, destructive coping mechanisms, aversion to discomfort, indecision and lack of drive. It's actually a bit strange I captured this image at this time, as I have recently been becoming more aware of these traits within myself and how they can control how I behave. Doing inner work sometimes requires sacrifice and has painful moments. However, becoming aware of all the aspects of our personalities can allow us to reach our potential and become more whole which can lead to a more fulfilling life.”
-May 2023
Image from 2023. Printed on archival quality paper.
“When I look at this image, it makes me think of two things:
The first is freedom. In the USA we have a freedom to buy and carry guns as we see fit. It's not a stretch to think that a child could get ahold of a firearm and cause self harm either intentionally or unintentionally. If I were to see a kid with a realistic looking toy gun on the streets of America, my first reaction would definitely not be to take a picture - I might try to stop him, try to get his parents attention, call the police, or frankly, hide.
Here in Spain however, people enjoy a freedom from guns, where a child can play like this and no one bats an eye. It would never cross the mind of a resident here to be afraid of gun violence when venturing out into the world. That to me is freedom. Freedom from fear.
The second thing this symbolizes to me is the need to kill the child within our psyche, or rather kill the power it can have over us if not recognized and dealt with. I'm not saying anyone needs to destroy the aspects of themselves that invite play, wonder and creativity, but some of us, myself included, suffer from some negative aspects of the inner child including feelings of inadequacy, destructive coping mechanisms, aversion to discomfort, indecision and lack of drive. It's actually a bit strange I captured this image at this time, as I have recently been becoming more aware of these traits within myself and how they can control how I behave. Doing inner work sometimes requires sacrifice and has painful moments. However, becoming aware of all the aspects of our personalities can allow us to reach our potential and become more whole which can lead to a more fulfilling life.”
-May 2023
Small = 5x7, Medium = 8x12, Large = 12x18 Sizes subject to slight variation depending on photo.