Standing in front of an open refrigerator, especially at night, is an exceptionally rich experience for me. I love the way the light spills over the food and various containers out into the room. The colors, textures, shapes, the change of seasons are all very much alive for me as I peer into my fridge.

I am curious by nature and even as a girl I remember spying into refrigerators just to see what people would buy and how it was organized. The relationship between a person or family and their refrigerator feels very personal, even intimate to me.

I began this journey of inquiry by photographing my own fridge. Over time I started asking friends and family if I could take portraits of the interiors of their fridges. Most of these refrigerators have been photographed as I have found them. Some people even offered up their freezers! Still others have been shy to expose their refrigerators to the camera.

Open Refrigerators was inspired by my friend Fabienne Khial. Her constantly changing fridge and her overwhelming love of food has been of intriguing importance to me. She truly has a wild forest of food in her fridge…fragrant and alive.

I live out in rugged country at some distance to the nearest store. So, my refrigerator is often incredibly full. I love feeling abundant in this way. I, of course, share this fridge with my family, so there are the inevitable constant changes that occur as everyone contributes to its arrangement. Some foods have their designated homes, others seem to roam around a bit depending on available space and the person taking things out or putting things away. Our own refrigerator, in a sense, is an intimate glimpse into me... and my family.

I hope you will enjoy the journey into these food sanctuaries as much as I have.