Photography, for many, is about the subject and the recording of life for keepsakes or references. Over the evolution of photography, the physical picture has become less of an object and more of a string of codes that can be viewed through the varying sizes of screens. This brings attention to the physical nature of photographs and their ability to be manipulated, and many have altered how a photo is perceived. My practice of removing parts of a photograph and filling in the openings with another image is my way of reclaiming the photograph as an object once again and further investigating the object’s surface and what lies behind it.

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Taking inspiration from a Catholic teaching that describes the coming together of heaven and earth at mass. The work of Caelum et Terram, which is Latin for heaven and earth, uses the photograph as an object to bring a visual understanding of this union of heaven and earth. For me, the church building is a haven where many come together and experience an encounter with God through the mass. As beautiful as these churches and cathedrals are, the practices and beliefs seem confined to only four walls. For me, these teachings go beyond the building, especially while walking through these structures. Searching for a connection between heaven and earth, knowing that it is more than just walls, columns, and stained-glass windows. I have the desire to break through and see what lies beyond the four walls.

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Similarly, the photograph can feel confined to the surface and subject. Caelum et Terram is a body of work that explores the ability to create a connection with the divine by physically altering the photograph and challenging its capacity to go beyond the surface. Moving beyond the surface, by removing those obstructions and inserting a new narrative into the photograph, new meaning can be sought, showing traditional beliefs as less confining. Opening new interpretations of conventional ways of seeing and thinking can lead to enlightenment. Recognizing the physical removal of parts by outlining them in gold shows that there is still beauty in the parts that remain and that they are touched by God. Seeing through the image to vast, beautiful, and dramatic landscapes echoes the beauty that is created within these sacred structures. The image serves as a window of the beauty that lies before us.

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-Molly Sheehan 2024