Seeking Clarity is a photography series featured in the 2024 Grand Rapids Art Prize.

The project is based on the innate human desire to understand ourselves and the worlds around us with the use of reflection and formal techniques. From Sarah’s own perspective as a veteran leaving the military, she uses art and imagery to contrast the familiar expectations of seeing oneself clearly in a mirror with the chaos of obscurity reflecting back, representing uncertainty and confusion. This is similar to the growth process of an individual working to understand themselves, but clarity seems to be out of reach. Many times, we assume life experiences will give us confidence in our personal identity, but we find that development of the mind and spirit is a continual process, and at times, frustrating. Sarah believes there is beauty in the chaos of development, even with imperfections and the lack of clarity staring back at us. She hopes this series brings beauty and relatability to the viewer as we all navigate journeys of self-discovery, cultural interactions and a relentless pursuit of growth.