what gives you hope?: south dakota, by amy d

Artist Statement

I am aware of a hurting world where tragedy strikes daily. I can best articulate my response to these tragedies and my understanding of hope through finding colors and details with the camera. So, when a typically beige building displays a piece of street art, a scrap of ribbon lies on the sidewalk, or the grass presents a newly fallen treasure, I notice. When I recognize these aspects of life that are easily missed, I find a hope that I address in my art. Particularly through photography, I present images as a challenge for viewers to ponder their own hopes and to become more aware of their world. I remember being repulsed by the idea of always carrying my camera because I felt like in doing so, I would be stepping out of life rather than enjoying it fully. But since doing so, I have learned to see better. In this piece, I present these photographic explorations of hope. I call for others to see beauty in the ordinary and desire for this to spur them to change their world.