Psychological study defines ritual magic as being a body-centered process of symbolic thought and action created to manifest internal desires within the realm of the tangible. Inherent in this process is the assumption that all things both internal and external act in sympathetic connection with one another. James Frazer described this connection as lines of invisible force between objects acting over distances through the "ether" or "ethereal layer" of the atmosphere. The colors red, black and white are often referred to as the "international colors of magic"; red symbolizing the body, blood, physical existence, sexuality, life, conflict and mortality; black symbolizing death, the unknown and the unconscious; white as spirit/soul and transformation.
The red threads in these images are invisible lines of force made visible and function as connections for the transference of desire from the internal body to the external object, or between two objects. The drawing of visual connections relates to poetic metaphor in the creation of relationships between seemingly unrelated events or objects to induce a new perspective. Since the magical act is also a physical manifestation of the desire for transformation, X-rays seemed especially appropriate as base images in their ethereal quality and sense of internal light created by an invisible and destructive (and therefore, transformative) process.
All of the images began as black and white prints with spray enamels, acrylic paints, red thread and three dimensional objects applied, and then photographed on transparency and color negative film. Cibachrome and color prints were made, and then were reproduced as 20"X24" Polaroid transfers on Kozo rice paper at the Polaroid Studio in New York. I view the prints of the images as separate work from the transfers as the softness of the transfer process lends a more intangible feel to the images, and the areas where the ink has lifted add an apparent patina of age. The color prints have more definition and show more subtlety of tone and detail, making the shadows of the objects more readily distinguishable and lending a greater sense of depth to the images.