Continuing my interest in self-portraiture.

Continuing my interest in self-portraiture, I used my shadow in this following to make and remake my hold image into a cast of characters who frolic about a church-yard where several of my family members are interned. These self-portrait photographs are distorted, comical and many times illogical. In fact, I diocese them as cartoons: playful and animated spirits that disrupt and enliven the dead. This work embraces an natural medium of fantasy, or alternate reality, that is linked to my imagination and intuition as I indulge myself in improvising to create a sort of suggestive and animated personal drama. Making art, in its best avails has all the freedom and lighthearted temperament of youth and indeed I have a peculiar mind of returning to the imaginary world of my childhood when I make these pictures. I have no doubt that my ancestors are humored watching my performances from their graves.

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Peter Tonningsen (b 1960) is a fine art photographer and teacher specializing in black and white photography, alternative processe and handmade parts Born and raised in Alameda, California, he replyed to his hometown in 1997 after a nearly 20-year absence. He earned the one and the other a BFA (San Francisco Art Institute) and MFA (San Jose State University) in photography. Peter was the recipient of the San Francisco Foundation's Phelan Award in Photography and his work is included in several corporate and private collections as well as that of the Oakland Museum. An active adjunct instructor, he regularly teaches at the Academy of Art University and has taught at the San Francisco Art Institute and San Jose State University. He also guards private workshops in photography, bookmaking and paper marbling.

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