Gunkanjima: Japan’s Abandoned Ghost Island (PHOTOS)
The evidence of what humans leave behind are like a time capsule. So interesting…
“Commonly known as Gunkanjima (or “Battleship Island”), Hashima Island floats off the coast of Nagasaki in Japan, surrounded by a concrete sea wall which gives it an armored warship appearance. The abandoned island’s weathered silhouette is punctuated by crumbling concrete buildings and structures, ravaged by typhoons.
Populated from 1887 to 1974 as a coal mining facility, Gunkanjima housed thousands of workers in its heyday. The tiny island had apartment buildings, a school, hospital, shrine, retail stores and restaurants and became the most densely populated place in the world per square meter with over 5,000 inhabitants in the 1950s. When coal mining declined, operations at the facility ceased and the island was abandoned in 1974.”
(photos) http://www.weather.com/travel/gunkanjima-japans-abandoned-ghost-island-photos-20130903
“Ambient Light” Opening Reception Sept. 13th, 6:30-9:30pm
OPENING RECEPTION
Friday, September 13th, 6:30pm-9:30pm
Please Join Me for the Opening Reception of Ambient Light: A Natural Luminosity,
Friday, September 13th, 6:30-9:30pm. This is an interesting exhibit of over
70 images by photographers across the nation. The evening will be filled with good art, tasty food,
stimulating conversation and great music provided by Frank Enanzoa and Jamie Carter. This exhibit
is free and open to the public so bring your friends and relatives. I look forward to seeing you there!
On Exhibit September 13th through October 13, 2013
“Ice Castle” at the Mall of America, 2013
The Quintessence of Self, Artist-in-Residency, 2013.
I have begun a journey, several months ago, in which I have chosen to reflect about the meaning of life, and the essence of the soul during a time a great life transition. So far this journey has proven personal strength, resilience and a higher level of personal enlightenment.
The artist residency was offered at an important time in my life. I was able to utilize this gift by exploring this theme deeper, gaining momentum and inspiration through the energy produced during the time at Trade River Retreat Center.
The definition of Quintessence is; the pure, highly concentrated essence of something; the purest or most typical instance: the quintessence of evil; and finally, in ancient and medieval philosophy, the fifth and highest essence after the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, thought to be the substance of the heavenly bodies and latent in all things.
“Finding Harmony and Strength”
“Exposed Inner Heart”
“Finding Balance”
“What Once Was”
“Loved Her Hair”
“The Evidence of Self”
“Painfully Empty Handed”
“Attempting to Find Oneself Under a Pile”
“Disembodied Legs”
“Nesting Owls”
“Me”
“Come Rain on Me”
“Reflection of the Soul”
“Shadow on the River”
Intimate Observations, Artist-in-Residency, 2013.
The following are intimate observations I made during my Artist-in-Residency, August 2013. I warmed up and stretched my photographic and creative muscles with exercises in observing light and content.
“Bird House”
“Eagle’s Nest”
“Fish Lake Road”
“Grass”
“Grass Nest”
“The Head and The Heart”
“Heart in Nest”
“Lilly Pad”
“Pine”
“Post Office”
“Drive Way”
“Rock Path”
“Sandy Bottom”
“Twig Trellis”
“Tree Wearing Mask”
“Turtle and Leach”
“Two Masks”
“Spider Web and Antlers”
“Twisted Wood”
Kickstarter project, 68% funded, 3 days to go!
There are only three days! Over night this Friday my kickstarter project will end. I am currently 68% funded. Help me make the goal to take full advantage of the this artist residency that was rewarded to me. I am leaving Friday… feeling a little nervous but this is the prefect grounds for something new, big and exciting. I have been having dreams nightly that entail new imagery… work… passions looking to escape and to be shared with the others.
Become a backer, support my efforts… select a book or a print or just donate. It is a win win!
Thank you for your support!
Heather
Related articles
- Kickstarter Project: Artist Residency at Trade River Retreat Center, WI (heathercmatson.com)
The Gunflint Trail
A weekend in a yurt on the Gunflint trail in Northern Minnesota with my husband and our Norwegian Elkhound. Nothing but the sounds of nature, sharing trails with moose and living simply… if only for a moment.
Emotional Landscapes
A landscape without emotion is just another landscape. Depicting a feeling, the wonder and awe, the sense of being present. I seek making imagery of landscapes to feel like memory… An image created by retelling your experience. Sometimes raw, dull, moody, mysterious, fantasy or simply familiar.
“Ice Castle” 2013. @ Mall of America (scanned Medium Format film)
December 23rd 2012, I took a walk in the woods with my father behind his home. The snow was deep and hard to travel but the purpose was greater. This very day his brother, my uncle, started a new journey one year prior. During our walk we talked about the good memories with his brother as well as the memories I had as a little girl walking through these very woods. A moment I will always cherish. (scanned Medium Format film)
“Lone Oak” 2012. What does this lone oak tree tell you? I find that everyone has a different story. (scanned Medium Format film)
Mississippi Bluffs, 2012. (scanned Medium Format film)
“Through the Rabbit Hole.” 2012 Lake Elmo (scanned Medium Format film)
“Ice Water Fall” 2013. Lilydale (scanned Medium Format film)
“Hazy Winter Sun” 2013 (scanned Medium Format film)
“River” 2013 (scanned Medium Format film)
“Fox Tail” 2005. Greater Minnesota. (scanned Medium Format film)
A cemetery in Hilo, Hawaii 2003. (scanned Medium Format film)
Hawaii, 2003 (scanned Medium Format film)
Hawaii, 2003 (scanned Medium Format film)
“Mushrooms” 2001 (scanned infared film)
Psychological Spaces
Humans impact their environment in many ways. We build great cities, humble homes and when we leave, we leave it all behind. What remains in these environments are the memories of the events that evolved there. A sort of psychological anthropological evidence of whom once lived there.
2005 (scanned medium format film)
“Habitat for Humanity on the Reservation” 2005. Eagle Butte, South Dakota. (scanned medium format film)
“Cemetery Boy Scouts Project” 2013 Spring Lake Park, Minnesota. (scanned medium format film)
“Tunnel” 2012. Lake Elmo (scanned medium format film)
“Ski Building” 2012. Lake Elmo (scanned medium format film)
“Hells Out Casts” 2012. Mississippi Bluffs. (scanned medium format film)
“Old Hunting Cabin” 2012. Mississippi Bluffs. (scanned medium format film)
“Old Lower Town Depot” 2013. Saint Paul, Minnesota. (scanned medium format film)
“Church Piano” 2005. Ortonville, Minnesota. (scanned medium format film)
“Bank Statements” 2005. Ortonville, Minnesota. (scanned medium format film)
“Abandoned Church Room” 2005. Ortonville, Minnesota.
“Abandon Church Window” 2005. Ortonville, Minnesota. (scanned medium format film)
“Church Crosses” 2005. (scanned medium format film)
“King Solomon” 2005. (scanned medium format film)
“Chair” 2005 (scanned medium format film)
“Church Piano” 2005 (scanned medium format film)
“The Old Church” 2005. Ortonville, MN. (scanned medium format film)
“Silo Bolt” 2012. (scanned medium format film)
“Silo Doors” 2012. (scanned medium format film)
“Ice Castle 2” 2013 @ Mall of America. (scanned medium format film)
Project Home
For many years I turned the camera on my family. From the time my son and daughter were babies to present. This focus has been in light of many life transitions for us all, from loss to life stages. I continue to tell our story…
