Artist Statement
I anchor my practice in an investigation of materials, processes, and their expressive potentials. I use fundamentally unstable high shrinkage handmade papers because the natural inclinations of these unpredictable fibers invite me to respond to the way they shift and contract as I work. When creating a form, I begin with a gesture or action in mind rather than a representational shape or image and allow this gesture to be enhanced through the natural warping of the paper. My color palette and imagery are inspired by my own poetry and free writing that meditate on topics of growth patterns, textures, repetition, and the relationship between forms. I create ambiguous but familiar objects that through moments of recognition viewers are prompted to construct their own narratives and conclusions.
Symbiotically and precariously balanced, petrified in motion, my work calls attention to systems of tension and support through a contemplative, reciprocal dialogue between viewer and object. Stretching, reaching, and wrapping, my sculptures evoke a desire to make connections as they rely on each other for structural support and beckon viewers through their gestures.