James creates new works of art using a mix of original and archival media sources, not limited to sound, video, still photos, and text. Recent works explore humanity’s relationship with the natural world, the passing of time, and what we – as individuals and as a species – choose to leave behind. In this exhibition, he presents “A Place of Great Tranquility and Unsurpassed Scenic Beauty”, an immersive installation that examines the impacts of tourism on ecosystems and cultures. James studied photography, sound engineering, and media theory in undergrad; in his professional career, he has been a recording engineer, an educator, the author of several books, and an occasional musician.
Travel poster, 2023, A graphic element excerpted from the installation "A Place of Great Tranquility and Unsurpassed Scenic Beauty"
Highway sign, 2023, A graphic element excerpted from the installation "A Place of Great Tranquility and Unsurpassed Scenic Beauty"
Park map, 2023, A graphic element excerpted from the installation "A Place of Great Tranquility and Unsurpassed Scenic Beauty"
Souvenir snow globe, 2023, A graphic element excerpted from the installation "A Place of Great Tranquility and Unsurpassed Scenic Beauty"
Video still, 2023, Excerpted from the installation "A Place of Great Tranquility and Unsurpassed Scenic Beauty"
“A Place of Great Tranquility and Unsurpassed Scenic Beauty” explores the impact of tourism on ecosystems, local cultures, and economies. The work consists of posters, signs, paper tri-fold brochures, maps, photos, four different video feeds (two projected and two on monitors), four-channel sound, a web site, astroturf, and plastic trash. Visitors find themselves in a simulated tourist visit to an unspecified natural area, where they may reflect upon the impact of continued stress on tourist sites, as well as the pressure placed on consumers to engage with the tourism economy, seeking experiences that may or may not provide an elusive – but continually promised – sense of fulfillment. The work does not condemn travel, but asks us to consider how we may continue to explore our world in a gentler and more respectful way.