Beyond The Ashes: Inside Where There’s Smoke by Lance Weiler

Untold Stories and Echoes: Deciphering Where There’s Smoke

The genesis of “Where There’s Smoke” began with Weiler’s relentless pursuit to decipher the complex layers of his father. Initiated by intimate conversations and interviews before his father’s passing in 2018, Weiler embarked on an investigation through the intricate web of familial bonds, shadows of unspoken stories, and secrets.

“In 1984 our van burst into flames on a family vacation. Eleven months later our house would burn to the ground. As I explore my past I find mysterious connections to these blazes and come face to face with a closet full of skeletons.”
___Lance Weiler

Lance Weiler’s father was not only a dedicated volunteer firefighter but also a passionate amateur fire photographer. These two fires, not only defined his father’s existence but also left an indelible imprint on Weiler’s own life. With their shadows lingering over Weiler’s family, they became the focal points of their father-son discussions, allowing Weiler to traverse the realms of unresolved emotions and unspoken words. At their core, these conversations ignited Weiler’s this personal quest to weave through uncharted territories of memories and revelations, and to understand the traces of destruction and decay left behind.

This exploration, enabled Weiler not just to understand his father better but also to delve deeper into his own reflections, experiences, and identity. It served as a cathartic process, unveiling undisclosed aspects of his father’s life and thereby impacting Weiler’s perceptions of life, relationships, and the inevitability of death.

The vivid collection of thousands of 35mm fire slides, about 3,200, captured by his father between 1968 and 1988, ignite the emotional and visual core of the exhibit. They delve deep into realms of obsession, constructing a labyrinthine mystery interwoven with shadows, smoke, and echoes. Within the overarching theme of destruction and decay, these photographs demonstrate aesthetic beauty and emotional depth, serving not only as a means of understanding but also as a journey into the very soul of familial bonds and shadows cast by untold stories.

These timeless elements encapsulated within the exhibition—Polaroid photographs and cherished, revered objects—are not mere relics. In addition to embodying the portals to Weiler’s fading memories and unfolding enigma, these works allow participants to transcend the boundaries of time and space, revealing the kaleidoscopic nature of human relationships and the emotional impact of loss. The elements within the exhibition serve as silent narrators whispering untold stories, unseen emotions, and unheard echoes from a time enveloped in shadows and mysteries, leading the participants on a quest for meaning and connection.

Rather than focusing on mechanical control, the exhibition emphasizes the concept of “letting go”. It is a relinquishment of preconceived analytical constructs, allowing participants to chart their own paths, experience varied elements, and connect deeply with specific components if they choose. The journey through “Where There’s Smoke” is about self-exploration, individual experiences, and connecting at a deeply personal level, whether participants experience the entire exhibition or find solace in just one photograph.