Artist Statement
I was born in Taylorsville, N.C. but spent most of my childhood in Lancaster County and the surrounding area. I grew up in dilapidated farm houses; consequently, the texture of peeling paint, smell of decaying wood and the feeling of being surrounded by a fragile and dusty, yet protective dwelling has imprinted upon me. There is a great longing for that sense of safety and comfort to return; while also a desperate need to escape it and build a new world.
As an artist, I chose to confront the reality that, once those illusions are shattered, and that innocence is lost, it can never be fully returned. There are shifts in reality and recalibrations over time. Growth: delicate, precise and difficult to describe but ultimately bending toward the light. I have come to hold the belief that people are more interesting and beautiful when the evidence of time has been allowed to occur and flaws are unapologetically present. These ideas are reflected in my admiration for objects that are complexly layered or worn down.
I like to let my personal feelings spill out through the work I’m doing, so I don’t feel so saddled by them. I don’t know if that is a messy way to deal or therapeutic? The significance of wholeness has also been a primary point of exploration in my work. I often use androgynous figures as an approach to engage in this conversation. I try to find a balance between leaving a piece open to possibilities while avoiding feelings of deficiency. The lack of wholeness is not a reflection of worth. I like to dig into big subjects like death, trauma and loss but with a whimsical or subtle resilience and resistance.