Gillette Castle has always been a deeply personal and powerful location for me. Perched atop a large hill overlooking the Connecticut River in East Haddam, Connecticut, this remarkable structure cast its spell on me from childhood. I grew up at the base of that same hill, and as a child, my family would hike up to the castle to explore its intriguing grounds.

The surreal architecture and fantastical nature of the space William Gillette created profoundly influenced my young imagination. At that age, I didn't understand who Gillette was or why there was a castle in Connecticut. I didn't realize this wasn't a medieval structure but rather a 20th-century creation. I remember concocting wonderful stories about the magic and mysteries that place might have held.

Returning now as an artist, I find great joy in creating my own fantastical narratives within this space while honoring the visionary who built it. The images of "Beastie" in my photographs represent the embodiment of my childhood imagination in conversation with William Gillette's creative vision. I believe Gillette, Twain and Beastie would have been fast friends.

William Gillette was a renowned actor and playwright, most widely known for adapting Sherlock Holmes stories for the stage and portraying the detective himself. The iconic deerstalker hat and curved pipe now associated with Holmes were Gillette's additions to the character. Through these performances, he became one of the most famous entertainers of his era.

Gillette designed and built this castle from the ground up, incorporating many eccentric details that reflected his creative personality — including mirrors strategically placed so he could observe what his guests were taking from the bar while he was upstairs. A true eccentric.