As I began making my body of work Wanted, I only was coming from a place of the present. In turn the earliest works most closely resemble my own identity rather than a broad one. It wasn't until after I made the initial five pieces that I began really explore what that queer identity would have looked like in the past, or if it even existed at all. Everything I had been taught my whole life was that it simply didn't, or couldn't have existed. However that is false. There exist documented laws, customs, journals, and photographs documenting the prominence of queerness in the West. Not only where their accepted terms for different kinds of queer relationships, but there were laws protecting them. This was in stark contrast to the big cities of the east coast. 

It is hard to put into to words the emotions that came over me as I was discovering all of this, I think above all else I felt validation. Suddenly my existence was not longer a taboo of my home, but it was a part of a long tradition. These discoveries fueled me as the body of work continued to grow, and made me feel closer to Idaho than I had ever felt, and it spurred a desire to return to the mountains, to walk the lands and pay homage to the brave people who came before me and lived openly. 

I am excited to say that Wanted will not end here, but that I have plans for the summer to work on creating several more pieces and expanding the series, as well as on a research trip to take more reference pictures, flora samples, and soil samples.