Compositions is an examination of surroundings, a scrutinization or study of the natural world. These studies rely heavily on the physicality of something, emphasizing diverse forms found within the textures of artifacts. The artifacts used are commonly small pieces of a natural landscape, e.g. rocks, tree bark, bones, plant matter, etc., found in a particular place. Using a digital flat-bed scanner, the textures of these artifacts are stressed by being enlarged and sometimes skewed or reconstructed; the movement of the object on the scanner bed creates a digital lag or glitch which produces highly intricate, mesmerizing patterns. The artifacts are then put back into context, by overlaying the scans of the artifacts with images from the place they were found. This activity, which combines both dated and new photographic processes, is drawn from my roots in music, as the scanning is both performative (a record of time) and evokes the essence of sound. The elaborate forms of the scan signify sound waves or notes on a staff. Ultimately, this work is a collection of my passions and inspirations, image-making, music, and nature, in an endeavor to understand, celebrate, and embrace a vast, unusual world.

Lemon, 2015
Archival Pigment Print
50 x 40 inches
Chelsea Polk 
scanner art

Lemon, 2015

Archival Pigment Print

50 x 40 inches



Jerky, 2015
Archival Pigment Print
22 x 16 inches
Chelsea Polk 
scanner art

Jerky, 2015

Archival Pigment Print

22 x 16 inches



Garlic, 2015
Archival Pigment Print
28 x 22 inches

Garlic, 2015

Archival Pigment Print

28 x 22 inches



Red Onion, 2015
Archival Pigment Print
22 x 16 inches

Red Onion, 2015

Archival Pigment Print

22 x 16 inches


Mold, 2015
Archival Pigment Print
28 x 22 inches

Mold, 2015

Archival Pigment Print

28 x 22 inches


Rocks, 2015
Archival Pigment Print
22 x 16 inches

Rocks, 2015

Archival Pigment Print

22 x 16 inches



Bone, 2016
Archival Pigment Print
29 x 18 inches

Bone, 2016

Archival Pigment Print

29 x 18 inches



Bark, 2016
Archival Pigment Print
18 x 29 inches

Bark, 2016

Archival Pigment Print

18 x 29 inches


Negatives, 2016
Archival Pigment Print
22 x 15 inches

Negatives, 2016

Archival Pigment Print

22 x 15 inches



Mushroom, 2016

Archival Pigment Print

36 x 24 inches



Business Card, 2016

Archival Pigment Print

22 x 14 inches



Cattail, 2016

Archival Pigment Print

14 x 22 inches



Typha, 2016

Archival Pigment Print

29 x 18 inches



Vines, 2016

Archival Pigment Print

22 x 14 inches



Mushroom no. 2, 2016

Archival Pigment Print

14 x 22 inches



Using Format