Artist’s Statement

My name is Gordon Strom and I love photography. It excites me. There is nothing I would rather do than pick up my camera and create with light and pixels.

When I start a new project I like to get up early, walk down a street in a foreign country, and look for slices of architecture or a situation that suggests the telling of a story. I don't have any idea what will happen when I go out, who I will meet or what I will photograph. I just wait for a theme to develop, and when it does I focus my energy in that direction.

This winter I was in the state of Veracruz, Mexico and I was fascinated with the many styles of doors and the condition they were in; some new and some well over 200 years old. I saw such beauty in these pieces of history. The textures, hardware, locks, and door knockers were captivating. Through the many layers of paint the owner’s history has made a mark on these doors.

In the port of Veracruz, the old town center is called Las Portales which means entrance. As I passed through the 500 year old Portales and entered the historical district I realized that doors were also portals separating one location from another. Metaphorically we do this by passing from one stage in life to another.

When people see my work I like them to come away moved out of their everyday lives and to be transported to a different place or time. I want them to think and enjoy. I would like my work to spark curiosity. I want viewers to be drawn in and to ask questions and move their eyes around the image and imagine what has happened in the past or what could happen in the future.

Portals is the culmination of three months in the state of Veracruz, Mexico, from the capital city of Xalapa to the small town of Teocelo.

I hope you enjoy this body of work.