When I wanted to learn film-making, I reflected on a quote from Director D.W. Griffith, considered one of the most influential figures in the history of motion pictures. He once said of French filmmaker Georges Méliès (The Great Illusionist, actor, and filmmaker). “I owe him everything.” I began my studies in magic and learned the ancient trick of cups and balls, dating back to the Romans. Its earliest origins are with the Egyptians in 2500 BC, using thimbles and bowls. Harry Houdini expressed the opinion that no one could be considered an accomplished magician until they had mastered the cups and balls. It took me five years to learn: one year for ball manipulation, one year for the magic wand, one year for the cups, and then two years to craft a routine. I became a part of the magic community in NYC. There is an old tradition of going out to dinner with a large group of magicians after a magic show and performing tricks where four tables were pushed together. Analyzing presentation, narratives, and effects. This became a way of honing one's skills. I was interested in the possibilities in the seemingly impossible. My art titled Fata Morgana is an extension of my cinematic pursuit into a different form of photography. This work can only be seen in the real, much like close-up magic.

- Grant Peterson, 2023