I was drawn to quarries for their beauty; their scale can be awe-inspiring, revealing layers of the Earth one normally would not see. Quarries are open-air excavation sites in which building materials such as stone, gravel and sand are mined and extracted for human use. While researching for this project, I discovered the negative environmental effects and shifted my focus from solely active quarries to inactive ones as well. The quarrying process, although necessary for building materials, is extremely destructive to the environment. The removal of material destroys natural habitats and displaces local wildlife. Noise and air pollution can further affect animals’ reproductive cycles, and changes in groundwater can dry out or flood nearby ground. Despite this, nature has a way of bouncing back and inactive quarries become new habitats for flora and fauna. The vastness is filled, and new beauty is born. My project looks at the way quarries are reclaimed by nature and sees the beauty in both.
Ella Afheldt is an artist working in the photographic medium. She photographs whatever interests her at the moment. She enjoys the process of printing and viewing her photographs as physical objects. Recent projects include quarries, an abandoned barn, various toys, and a book comparing views of Toronto and the Grand Canyon.