The Value in Stepping Stones is the Distance Between Them, acrylic on canvas, 2020 A hiker in three states: as a hiker, as a reconfigured version of himself, and then as the stepping stones they are walking on. Ideally this type of image is relatable to anyone who is aware of how experience can affect our state of mind. The original text was “stepping stones are not valued for their size but how far they are apart,” an effort to turn the emphasis toward empty space. My work often illuminates the gaps in the world, gaps we do not always perceive. 094 The Ski Journal