Kristen DeFontes

Artist Statement

This series developed from an invitation to a group show based on the Hudson River. To begin my work on this project I took snapshots and created sketches while looking through the window of a train traveling round trip from Albany to Manhattan in December of 2007. So much of the history of this river is related to transportation that I felt it fitting to connect with the subject in this way.

During this trip, I viewed the river with fresh eyes. In each direction I recorded different information from both sides of the train view. I took inventory of objects and wildlife interacting with the river’s natural landscape. Structures like bridges, smokestacks and relics of past industry, became part of my consciousness.

As my process took me into the spring and early summer months, the undeniable beauty of the seasonal colors found their place within the woodblock prints and collages, whereas the dry points and monotypes reflect a sense of winter. As far as the river’s natural habitat, I observed striking black and white birds (which I later found out were “Common Mergansers - males in breeding plumage” from a NYSDEC wildlife leader). I had these birds in my consciousness throughout the making of these works and although they are not represented in the pieces literally, something about their natural co- existence with the landscape inspired me greatly.