Rob Tarbell: 

The Retina Captures are an embodiment of a 19th century myth. It was purported that the last image seen by the eyes of a dying person would remain on the retina after they had passed away. If a murdered person’s eyes could be photographed, the culprit could be identified from the reti­nal image. These images present a series of pre-posthumous events.

— Rob Tarbell, 2011

In my practice, making art is as much about directing intent as it is about scientific tinkering. All of my diverse work is linked by the trans­formation and manipulation of traditional materials and the exploration of non-traditional ones. The loss of an original and the use of elaborate processes are inherent to the creation of the smokes, paintings, and porcelain series. The work intends to both balance accident with control and give permanence to the ephemeral.