ARTIST BIO:
Wayne Swanson is a fine art photographer based in San Diego who likes to find the wonder in the ordinary. It could be anything from the sculptural beauty of freeway interchanges to the unexpected shadows cast by wine glasses and bottles.
His interests range from shapes and forms, architecture, and landscapes to the highly personal. He is drawn to imagery related to time, memory, atmosphere, a sense of place, and a subtle sense of humor. Then he finds a means of presentation that suits his subject. That could mean single images, composites, or grids. The output could be analog or digital prints, Polaroids, image transfers, or 3-dimensional objects.
He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, and his career has included writing and photography for publications and corporate clients. His photography has been exhibited widely in galleries, fine art publications, and the photobook California Love. As a writer, he is a contributing editor to PhotoBook Journal.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Expired Palms documents the battle between two non-native species — the Canary Island palm and the South American palm weevil. The Canary Island palm is an iconic symbol of Southern California, yet it is not universally loved by locals because it is not an authentic expression of the region. Rather, it was imported in the 19th century to enchant newcomers. So, there is a certain irony to the fact that the palms are now threatened by another invader. The palm weevil’s larvae eat the interior of the trunk of the palms, eventually killing the trees. I chose a combination of Polaroid SX-70 prints and acrylic gel transfer images on wood cubes to capture the palms’ fading glory.
Wayne Swanson
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