I am cultural anthropologist from the United States. I am living in Alaska—though I got my start in the Midwest, training in anthropology and dance in Chicago with a little stop in the Rocky Mountains, several years in the Hawaiian Islands on my way to the arctic coast.
My anthropological research focused on the global dance network and its localization in various settings. I am most interested in (geographically) periphery places, with my Master’s degree research taking place in Reykjavík Iceland. I love studying island communities, big or small and collaboration with those voices. Particularly, I am fascinated by the concept of remoteness and what that does or does not mean anymore in this globalized world.
In July 2019, I found myself on another volcanic island, living on a remote peninsula on Molokai. My time on that special peninsula greatly influenced what I hope to do with my life: primarily I want to hold and tell the stories of places + the people that make those places home.
From there I spent exactly (to the day) two wonderful years in Hāna town on Maui. I remain passionate about this amazing area of Maui, learning from my ʻohana of coworkers, and sharing the moʻolelo, plants, sea birds and monk seals, and the archeology of the area with the thousands of folks who come often to chase waterfalls without much understanding of where they find themselves.
A culmination of a lot of time spent wondering if I was good enough, I am up in Kotzebue Alaska—working in subsistence and anthropology.
These days I share my film photo work from my adventures and other inspirations.
I thank you for taking the time to spend some of your day with me on this website, which is an archive of my work. Feel free to comment, share, etc! Thanks for stopping by.
-Em