Our story here begins with my talisman, a photograph taken in 1956 of a young boy in Thibodaux. The small print came from bayous, through Mardi Gras, to pines, along rivers, and finally to the sea and then to me. 

I buried this photo in the middle of San Luis Valley- a resting place before the climb. This is my makeshift headstone to leave offerings to the boy, my father who passed ten years ago. 

When I think of the object in the dirt at the base of a dead tree, I think of the owls, the bones and scraps laid out summoning to assemble a new creature, storms and stars, and the silver road leading to an empty home. I return often to leave things behind and take some too. This series is that. 

I have tried and failed to put words to the feeling of being in this valley- dreaming of it, remembering it, or actually being there. Much like my memory of the past. To reconcile this world I've discovered, lost, and found again I will try to express it here without ordinary language. 

This series has been in the making for eight years and I can’t imagine inspiration will end. ‘This world: a monster of energy, without beginning and without end’, only transforms itself into new magical works. All 35mm and 120mm film is developed and hand manipulated at home. There are also prints and drawings which incorporate paint, ink, and charcoal.

this series is to be self published in a series of zines. TBA by Jacqueline Badeaux