Still Life — Donna Hopkins

I sometimes struggle with still life work. When I work with objects rather than living subjects, I remove elements of unpredictability and exercise greater control. I can’t truly say that I am attempting to convey any deep philosophical statement. And, often a single picture seems incomplete—like one half of a conversation. But, place those pictures side-by-side and there is a dialogue. Two ordinary objects carrying the weight of meaning, whatever that meaning is to the viewer. In any case, I worry that these are just pictures of things and not about things. Until I step back, and see myself in the frames, and let go of the notion that any of it needs to mean anything at all. A ripe heirloom tomato in a thrifted bowl. Tiny red begonias in a wall pocket. Pictures of moments of stillness, where things are simple for a second.