Victoria Charleson, Co-Curator

The year 2020: reckless, impulsive, and addictive behaviors plagued my daily life in a desperate attempt to soothe the physical manifestation of emotional pain. After multiple hospitalizations and, eventually, a 28-day inpatient program for co-occurring disorders, I emerged with a new-found stability, a sense of inner tranquility, and the momentum to move forward and rebuild from the wreckage that had become my life. Through weeks of experimentation, I discovered a new photographic process: manipulating the emulsion of Polaroid film. Creating each piece required a meticulous, steady hand, and a quiet concentration. This practice, coincidentally, became my daily meditation. However, despite my efforts to tame the emulsion, it was unyielding. As with my own path to recovery, I had no choice but to surrender to the process. My power lied solely in the ability to influence the material's transformation, but ultimately, each piece determined its own outcome. The making of "Collateral Damage" was instrumental in my reaching a turning point in a life of disarray. By cultivating a new way to approach my work, I was better able to release the seemingly unending sorrow, heartbreak and grief.