Artist Statement

July 8th, 2016 was the day I died. Undiagnosed disease caused my large intestine to rupture and I fell into a septic coma for a few days. After a month in the hospital, plagued by hallucinations and un-imaginable pain, I returned home to spend the next year with my small intestine terminating outside of my abdomen. Even in Arcadia is a short series of photos that distill some of the dreams and feelings I still carry with me about this period of my life. Giving these feelings form and being forced to craft and hold a fake version of my own intestine helped me confront and process some of the trauma. For me these final photos speak of the fragile parts inside and remind me that death awaits us all, even in Arcadia. 

I also want everyone who reads this to get a colonoscopy.

Credits

Photography and Sculpture: Nick Boxwell

Makeup Effects: Mattzilla Duron

Model: Bailey Dreibelbis

Even in Arcadia was made possible by the Eichholz Grant from the Eichholz Foundation and Portland State University.