In spite of the proliferation and popularity of farmers’ markets and farm-to-table events, most people today have no idea where their food comes from. In today’s society we have lost the thread that takes us back to the real source of our food, of our sustenance. My sense is that if you asked most people today where their food comes from, they would probably name their local grocery store or their favorite fast food restaurant. Not really thinking about the actual source of that food or its origin. We’ve forgotten the wonder of nature, the joy of growing things, and the dignity of the creatures that support our well-being.

Americans are relentlessly encouraged to love their beef. Eating meat is in the American experience. Remember Wendy’s famous, “Where’s the Beef?” campaign? Or Robert Mitchum telling us “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner”? As Michael Pollan reminds us, a more critical question might be “where does the beef come from?”*

By using portraiture as a unique way of presenting these animals, my goal is to provide a path to connect the viewer to the animal and to give the viewer an opportunity to see these animals in a way they may have never considered before. After seeing (viewing?) this series I want people to think of these animals as living, breathing beings and not just a commodity. And maybe, just maybe, the next time someone orders a hamburger they will think of the animal that provided that burger, and will say a little thank you to the spirit of that animal for providing nourishment and sustenance.

*The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, Michael Pollan (2006)