I Don’t See Anything That’s Not Beautiful

For two years, Louise Kames photographed small piles of sticks and leaves arranged on the grounds of the Mount Carmel Convent in Dubuque, Iowa, where she once lived as a practicing sister for 25 years. These natural compositions were created by a sister in residence experiencing early signs of dementia. In conversations with the sister, Kames learned that arranging these piles was a ritual intended to beautify the surroundings and calm her mind. It was during these exchanges that the title of the series emerged, inspired by the sister’s remark, “I don’t see anything that’s not beautiful in these.”

Kames created this series as a reflection on her conversations with the sister, using a sequential format that mirrors the progression of dementia. During the same period, Kames was also caring for her mother, who was struggling with Lewy Body Dementia. These artworks became not only a personal exploration of her journey as a caregiver but also a meditation on the toll that dementia takes on those affected and those who care for them.

Willow Series: The subject of this series of works is a willow tree in the yard of Louise Kames’ home in Dubuque, Iowa. This tree is under severe stress and slowly dying due to the prolonged drought in Iowa, a consequence of climate change. The tree’s gradual decline also serves as a poignant symbol of a life in decline, connecting this series to her work, I Don’t See Anything That’s Not Beautiful.

Louise Kames holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in drawing and printmaking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master of Arts degree in Art History from the University of Illinois, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art and art history from Clarke University. She is a professor of art at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa.