DESTIG INTERVIEW WITH DON SLOCUM, NUMBER 8 ON OUR LIST OF 25 RECOMMENDED ARTISTS FOR 2019.
Tell us about yourself and background.
I grew up in Ann Arbor, MI., a midwest college town and was exposed to all the cultural and educational benefits afforded by a major university. I later lived in the mountains west of Boulder Colorado. I attended a Community College photography program in Ann Arbor, but most of my skills are self-taught through experimentation and research. I have been involved in photography whether shooting, teaching, or retail camera sales most of my life.
Tell us about yourself and background.
I grew up in Ann Arbor, MI., a midwest college town and was exposed to all the cultural and educational benefits afforded by a major university. I later lived in the mountains west of Boulder Colorado. I attended a Community College photography program in Ann Arbor, but most of my skills are self-taught through experimentation and research. I have been involved in photography whether shooting, teaching, or retail camera sales most of my life.
"While recording real events, which all of my images are, no composites here, I'm always on the lookout for a tiny hook to draw the viewer in."
Tell us about your work. What makes your approach unique?
While recording real events, which all of my images are, no composites here, I'm always on the lookout for a tiny hook to draw the viewer in. Something that will catch the eye, but not so obvious to be noticed, many times on the sub-conscious level. I'm a natural at composition, I hardly have to think about, it just comes naturally and is a strong point of many of my images.
What are you passionate about?
Protecting the environment, especially Hawaii. We only have one planet and it worries me how we've been treating our spaceship.
"I often wonder that if I'm lucky enough for people to view my work in 100 years, will they be able to say the planet is healthier than the time frame I'm recording?"
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.
There is really one for each of my images, many crystal clear in my mind. My image 'Milky Way Rising over Green Sand's, involved, four wheeling on a very rough road at 3 am to shoot just before dawn. Here on the Big Island, there are night owls with a three-foot wingspan that will fly in front of your vehicle while hunting for rodents. Seeing one is Aumakua or a good luck animal for me. While driving in I recorded eleven sightings and yes that image is pure magic.
Share with us your upcoming projects.
I have some international locations that I have interest to visit and shoot, but are all in the early planning stages. I also have plans to add to my Hawaii images this year by creating images on other islands, including Molokai.
"My time spent in Hawaii has been a spiritual journey and this has greatly influenced my photographic images. As a trained intuitive many times I receive internal information about where to go and when. This nearly always results in spectacular images. I really can no longer doubt it when I get the calling, day or night."
How do you feel about art and its role in the world today?
I often wonder that if I'm lucky enough for people to view my work in 100 years, will they be able to say the planet is healthier than the time frame I'm recording, or will it be a sad reminder of what we have lost. I'm praying it's the first scenario, we have a lot of work to do!
What are your sources of inspiration?
I consider my work a spiritual partnership. As a trained intuitive I focus on what comes up for me internally. There have been numerous times that I've been internally directed to a local or event. When this happens it always magical and I know, at times I'm assisted.
"I want to move your eyes around my images, not just a hit and run."
Tell us about where you are based.
I'm based on Hawaii Island, the Big Island, in the middle of the Pacific where I've resided for just over thirty years in this lifetime. I'm sure I've been here during past lives.
How do you want your art to affect the viewer/ world?
For me, it's all about sparking a feeling or emotion in people viewing my work. To take someone to calm, introspection is wonderful and if I can hook you into a deeper long-lasting interaction, I'm in heaven. I want to move your eyes around my images, not just a hit and run.
Website: donslocum.com
| PDF of the Interview in DESTIG Magazine |