Brooks Shane Salzwedel

Exploring the delicate balance between the natural world and man-made environments, this series delves into the transformative beauty of the nighttime landscape in city parks. Through intricate drawings, the essence of the city and the night is revealed, where moon and city lights push through silhouetted environments.

Walking these parks after dark reveals a mix of fascination and wariness, where the quiet and darkness can conceal shadows—obscure figures, potential dangers, and the unpredictable responses of startled animals—yet the allure of exploration persists. Each night offers new marvels: moonlight and distant city lights filter through the brush, car headlights tracing paths, and an eerie glow of a stranger’s phone lights up a tree. It's paradoxical to feel fear and danger in these settings, often safer than the city, where risks like traffic accidents, theft, or assault persist, adding layers of complexity to the experience and highlighting the disparity between perceived and actual safety.

In these works, a vibrant palette is utilized, employing layers of semi-transparencies to emulate the night sky's gradients. This technique imparts a radiant, ethereal quality to the silhouetted forms, imbuing them with an aura of mystery and enchantment. Through these creations, the intention is to evoke a sense of tranquility, contemplation, and a profound connection to the natural world, even amid the urban hustle and bustle. Similar to the night which lacks depth and perspective, these works reflect a need to look closer to make sure you’re not missing something hidden in the details of the silhouettes against the night sky.