HQ2

(2017 - ongoing)

In October 2017, I began attempting to photograph wild animals wandering into a red carpet-style step-and-repeat backdrop using a game camera. The project started shortly after Amazon announced its plan to open a second headquarters, sparking an absurd bidding war between North American cities. I attempted to lure wildlife with various baits, including apples, raspberry jam, doe estrus urine, hot dogs, and chicken, while cities offered billion dollar tax breaks, saguaro cacti, and permanent mayorships. This is not a direct metaphor for the HQ2 race, but rather an exploration of landscape photography warped by increasingly heavy centers of corporate gravity. My camera captured thousands of images, most of which were triggered by wind or shadows and contain no animals. I have presented the material in a number of ways, including a performance lecture in 2018 during a residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts.