Artist Statement

“What do a puffin, a sunset, and a drag king have to do with one another? Through my camera lens, they define place in a way that I find critically important. Though this exhibit ranges widely — from wildlife, to landscape, to event photography, and across a handful of states — the images in it were selected by how they define the place they were shot in. Beautiful and wild Alaska, for example, has only remained as such because of a profound respect for the care and cultivation of that beauty and wilderness. And I feel that many of my fellow Minnesotan viewers might relate to just how affecting time spent on the shores of Lake Superior can be.

One of the ways that I hope to grow my skill and portfolio is in my work with the local LGBTQ+ community, of which I am a part. When I first came to Marshall back in 2005, I would never have imagined that this city would eventually host a rapidly-growing, successful, annual Pride celebration. It has felt like a sea change, and one that has provided me a profound sense of welcome and belonging that hasn’t always existed, and certainly doesn’t exist elsewhere. I am compelled to showcase the community in my work — its joy, its success, and its importance.” ~ Thomas Flynn