Why I Make…
The interactive artwork I have created is indicative of my current life situations of being a wife, mother, daughter, and student. My work reflects a deep passion for working conceptually and romanticizing material. I strive for an unquestionable symbiosis in subject matter, process, and technique. I love getting lost in the joy I receive in that moment of working with metal and wood. I want my audience to feel that love for the material while being challenged to think of its concept.
Change captivates me. Development of man, history, and relationships fascinate me. Inspiration comes from my family, people watching, and researching Victorian-era mechanisms and the human body. I am passionate about evoking thought and reflection throughout my work, as well as making connections with others.
My art encompasses a variety of mixed media, however, what I most enjoy is metal, wood, paint and fabric. The versatility of these materials provides access to working sculpturally without limitations. Extreme detail and elaborate embellishments are important to me because I want to keep people engaged, surprise them, and give them something to visually look forward to. I draw inspiration for the detail by recalling carved furniture from my childhood home. I also research architecture, mechanisms, and toys from gothic and Victorian times. Creating art that involves containment and kinetic movement are key in almost everything I construct. Forms contained within other forms draws people’s attention, and kinetic components allow physical interaction in addition to my visual interests.
My intentions in showcasing and creating my work are to make connections with others who may need emotional validations for the various hardships in life. I am hopeful that the beauty within the work will provide some reprieve, some support, and allow time to reflect. I try to connect through creating a sense of nostalgia and providing individualized interactions with my art. I am hopeful that others will reminisce of times past, memories of their lives, and generations before us. I hope to have something in common with my audience and develop a relationship and commonality with them.