Galleries

NEW WORK-The Lost Kingdom : An ongoing series depicting the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Some prints are for sale, Please contact me directly for more information www.kristenmwatson.com

NEW WORK-The Lost Kingdom

An ongoing series depicting the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Some pri ...

Updated: Jan 26, 2008 12:21pm PST

We Wish to See God: Places of Worship : The primary function of a place of worship is to inspire an intimate relationship between man, woman and God. The place of worship transcends religious boundaries as a sacred structure. It reflects the solace of sanctuary that is found in communion with the Divine. One aspect I enjoy about exhibiting my work is discovering the various reactions of my audience because some immediately recognize the “church” environment while others do not see it at all. They simply see an abstracted space or object. It doesn’t take long for either to pose questions concerning the message of my work. It seems that the human mind cannot resist the urge to attach some social commentary to my photographs in an effort to compartmentalize and simplify my view on religion and spirituality. I do not propose any particular point of view on religion or spirituality, except to present the simple fact of its invariable presence manifested by the architecture that is the main subject of my work. The objects depicted in my photos are proof of the mortal human, in this case the men and women who built the place of worship, attempting to express in matter the intangible qualities of God, such as Grace, Love, Spirit, Power, Beauty, Simplicity, and Peace. The human desire to seek these experiences is universal and independent of any particular religious or cultural alignment. This work is representative of my experiences in these places. When I go into a place I take time to walk around and use all of my physical senses to absorb the space. Most of this is looking and looking again. Each place has a certain smell, temperature, and a spiritual and visual lightness (or darkness and heaviness). Some of the nuances of the spaces are highlighted in my work. The reoccurring themes of elements used in worship, irrespective of faith, like hymnals, pews, pulpits, pipe organs, and general similarities in structural design are acknowledged. It is not, however, just the object’s meaning that is important to me, but also its physical and formal qualities as well as how it connects and functions within the space overall. I try to capture the serenity of the spaces in the photos. These places of worship are rich with a spiritual fervor that is expressed in the architectural craftsmanship of centuries past and the loving maintenance of the well-used implements for connecting with God. Kristen M. Watson Some prints are for sale, please contact me for more information: kristen@kristenmwatson.com

We Wish to See God: Places of Worship

The primary function of a place of worship is to inspire an intimate r ...

Updated: Jan 26, 2008 9:20am PST

Abstracts in Color : Some prints are for sale, Please contact me directly for more information www.kristenmwatson.com

Abstracts in Color

Some prints are for sale, Please contact me directly for more informat ...

Updated: Jan 26, 2008 10:14am PST

Life portraits : Some prints are for sale, Please contact me directly for more information www.kristenmwatson.com

Life portraits

Some prints are for sale, Please contact me directly for more informat ...

Updated: Jan 26, 2008 11:11am PST

Stillifes, Abstracts, & Other Curiosities : Some prints are for sale, Please contact me directly for more information www.kristenmwatson.com

Stillifes, Abstracts, & Other Curiosities

Some prints are for sale, Please contact me directly for more informat ...

Updated: Jan 26, 2008 11:40am PST

Means of Travel : Some prints are for sale, Please contact me directly for more information www.kristenmwatson.com

Means of Travel

Some prints are for sale, Please contact me directly for more informat ...

Updated: Jan 26, 2008 10:06am PST

Samoa : I traveled to the island of Western Samoa in July 2006. These photos were taken with a Pentax Digital camera, my first experience with the technology. Some prints are for sale, Please contact me directly for more information www.kristenmwatson.com

Samoa

I traveled to the island of Western Samoa in July 2006. These photos ...

Updated: Jan 26, 2008 1:56pm PST

My Smug Mug :

My Smug Mug

Updated: Jan 26, 2008 8:16am PST

Homestead: the journey back to Mother :

Homestead: the journey back to Mother

Your Bio

Kristen has been making Art since her youth, spent partly in Ohio and Virginia. She recently graduated from the University of Vermont summa cum laude with degrees in Psychology and Studio Art. Kristen considers herself a generalist, but as of late has been most enamored with black and white photography and traditional darkroom processes. She also paints and draws. Kristen is considering a Masters in Art Education, but for now is taking time to enjoy life after almost a decade of part-time school and a full-time career in medical device sales. She and Dave, her husband of three years, enjoy outdoor adventure, movies, public radio, social activism and playing with their two kitties, Lily and Mikey. They reside in South Burlington, Vermont.