These images begin with photographs of animal specimens that have been cleared and stained. In this process, small mammals, reptiles, fish, and amphibians are soaked in a solution that renders muscle and tissue transparent. Stains are then used to make bones and cartilage a darker color. They are typically used by scientists to study morphology, anatomy, and evolution without having to use X-rays or dissection.

The specimens allow a remarkable view of the poetic and lyrical qualities of animals. They are a point of departure for my imagination. The original images are heavily edited, and backgrounds are added – primarily images from the natural world that are also altered.

In architectural terms, a clerestory is a high section of a wall that contains windows above eye level. The purpose is to let in more light. The cleared and stained specimens allow me to see things about the animals that I could not otherwise observe. They are beautiful and haunting; they tantalize with the mysteries of how and why such elegant and complex structures came to exist. It is as though they are trying to tell me a story or to sing a song. These images are the visual impressions of what I hear.

In recent years, poet Naila Moreira has written poems in response to many of these images. This collaborative work has been exhibited with prints of her poems hung next to the photographs.