During a winter in the Colorado Rocky Mountains I became interested in the footprints I found on snow surfaces, as they were created by humans as well as wildlife. Sometimes I found tracks I wasn’t able to assign to specific creatures at all. This led me to experiment with my own footprints as I was walking across large untouched snow surfaces on snowshoes. I began thinking up patterns in my head, which I tried to transfer onto the snow. The snow surface became a giant canvas, almost limitless, yet unforgiving of any execution flaws. The circumstances required my designs to be composed of one single uninterrupted line.

 

As I was creating patterns over the course of the winter, I discovered that my snow canvas behaved differently depending on the thickness of the snow cover as well as the snow quality (for instance soft and dry versus coarse and wet). The character of my imprints – or my line – was defined by these conditions. Imprints exposed to sunlight created yet another type of mark, as it partly thawed and refroze later in the day.

 

The ephemeral character of this work required instant photo documentation. Taking photos led to another discovery: the quality of the line was heavily influenced by the light. The best light situation was low sunlight, either early in the morning or before sunset. Depending on the angle of the sun and the position of the camera the drawings could appear shining white or almost black. The same piece often had two entirely different readings when observed from opposite sides. Equally the works became defined by the surrounding landscape, as well as the omission of any environment and sole camera focus on the altered snow surface.

 

I am intrigued by the subtle and ephemeral nature of this work and how it defines the landscape during its short presence. At the time of its creation the duration of each piece is completely unpredictable. It can last as long as a few days or as short as a couple of hours only, being covered by snow drifts or new snowfall almost immediately. I have become interested in creating snow drawings in different landscapes throughout the US, and intend to continue this project this coming winter. In addition I plan to work with collaborators, creating large patterns in the landscape. Much like in a choreography the performers will execute various movements. Each of them will perform their own sequences and types of marks, however in correspondence with one another, as they will all be moving across the snow at the same time. The process of the performance will be documented on video and its final outcome on photo. I am planning to propose this collaboration to schools and other communities. I hope to work in several places and with different people and age groups.