Contrived Denial
I’m a hippie kid. My parents were hippies, nomads, and migrant farmers. I was raised across the country on many farms from picking cherries in Oregon to digging potatoes in Idaho. One thing I absolutely enjoyed was when the farms had a barn quilt to admire. It was more than my love of art that drew me to these. It was the individuality they displayed. That I could sew a barn quilt block I liked was super cool to me, as well. We also were a fiber art family though we didn’t think of it elevated in that way at the time. Sewing, knitting, crocheting, macramé, were what we did at days end around the fire while relating to others about the change they wished to see in our world or why they chose to step out of mainstream society.
You see I was not just being raised on fresh produce and sunshine but on the ideals of equality and social justice. The topics were not tailored for me, often the only child in the commune, so I often got a unedited daily lesson on feminism, racial equality, etc and I wouldn’t change a thing. These conversations taught me to take serious things seriously.
This call brought my mind back to that communal ideal and those barn quilts. I decided I wanted something similar for my ‘quilt block’ instead of my usual complex collaging and was mindful to keep it simple-which was difficult.
You see I was not just being raised on fresh produce and sunshine but on the ideals of equality and social justice. The topics were not tailored for me, often the only child in the commune, so I often got a unedited daily lesson on feminism, racial equality, etc and I wouldn’t change a thing. These conversations taught me to take serious things seriously.
This call brought my mind back to that communal ideal and those barn quilts. I decided I wanted something similar for my ‘quilt block’ instead of my usual complex collaging and was mindful to keep it simple-which was difficult.
DYNAMICS OF FLOW
And the pretenders think the darkness is evil when God breathed the night.
Soundtrack Blueberries-DPR Ian
PURGE
Permanent Collection-Haegeumgang Museum,
Geoje, South Korea
I’d like to purge the hive minds that are killing the hive.
All these voices bark at me-
Open your mind so you can think just like me.
Dont you want to act like me?
Telling me how to be and what to see.
And in the end they want to be like me.
They tell me-
Fix what you say,
but my thoughts weren’t broken.
Follow their feet on a road that I’ve already taken.
With experience and debts I already paid.
To accept their small ideals and silly notions,
from tiny minds that have never been over oceans.
Followers always barking that they are leading the way,
when they never leave their screens and social media play.
I’m supposed to check my education, experience, heart at the door,
while you sell me garbage narriatives I wouldn’t pick up from the floor.
All these voices bark at me-
Open your mind so you can think just like me.
Dont you want to act like me?
Telling me how to be and what to see.
And in the end they want to be like me.
They tell me-
Fix what you say,
but my thoughts weren’t broken.
Follow their feet on a road that I’ve already taken.
With experience and debts I already paid.
To accept their small ideals and silly notions,
from tiny minds that have never been over oceans.
Followers always barking that they are leading the way,
when they never leave their screens and social media play.
I’m supposed to check my education, experience, heart at the door,
while you sell me garbage narriatives I wouldn’t pick up from the floor.
NO FEAR FOR THE FUTURE HORIZONS
My musings on the light and shadow of today and my hope for tomorrow.
Being stuck inside for months and then battling cancer has made me think and sketch a lot. I have pages of pieces to be made dealing with perseverance and survival. I’ve developed on paper only-two new techniques in my work. I think it’s important to always be creating as an artist.
Being stuck inside for months and then battling cancer has made me think and sketch a lot. I have pages of pieces to be made dealing with perseverance and survival. I’ve developed on paper only-two new techniques in my work. I think it’s important to always be creating as an artist.
THE MATERIAL
ZONE ROGUE
24x1.5 2019
In northeastern France exists a place where an area of 460 square miles is permanently restricted from human inhabitation due to sheer numbers of unexploded WWI ordnance and pollution of heavy metals. The French government has allowed the land to return to nature, although some areas so heavily poisoned, plant life does not grow. It is estimated that a complete cleanup would take 300-700 years.The human mind is not unlike a lingering battlefield. We carry with us grudges, resentments, toxic obsessions. Ugly bits of our personality laying in wait to explode when someone digs into us. Poison we continue to regurgitate and chew on every day. Corners of our psyche where healing is probably no longer an option and nothing good will ever grow there again.
In northeastern France exists a place where an area of 460 square miles is permanently restricted from human inhabitation due to sheer numbers of unexploded WWI ordnance and pollution of heavy metals. The French government has allowed the land to return to nature, although some areas so heavily poisoned, plant life does not grow. It is estimated that a complete cleanup would take 300-700 years.The human mind is not unlike a lingering battlefield. We carry with us grudges, resentments, toxic obsessions. Ugly bits of our personality laying in wait to explode when someone digs into us. Poison we continue to regurgitate and chew on every day. Corners of our psyche where healing is probably no longer an option and nothing good will ever grow there again.
LOST IN THE EPHEMERAL
ELEGANT SLAVE
II’d say my disposition is a sunny shade of black. It’s a bit of a contradiction, yes. Let’s just say that I can see clearly to find my way around in the dark.
SCRATCHING AN ITCH
MORE THAN THIS
FINDINGS
THAT THING THAT ENDLESSLY WHISPERS
JEALOUS GHOST-MOVEMENT TWO
HALFWAY HIDDEN
ACROSS BUTTERFLY WINGS
MOVEMENT OF MELANCHOLIC MISERY
NOTHING GROWS IN A HEARTLESS GARDEN
UNTITED-1 SERIES
JEALOUS GHOST-MOVEMENT ONE
JEALOUS GHOST-MOVEMENT THREE
AVANTE
TODAY EXPANDS
PLAYING GOD
BREATH OF CHANGE
SEEING PAST GRIEF
THIS, THAT, AND THINGS THAT WHISPER
HYBRID
SAY MY NAME
20x30x3 2019
I’d been trapped in situations before but this one had no immediate way out. I’d been cuffed, searched, striped, and stowed away, I thought sleep no matter how lousy could soothe the pain. Locked door, dark room, one other body motionless in the opposite corner. Exhausted I silently climbed into the squeaky cot. She barely broke the silence with her informal greeting, “Who are you?” It was unusual to give my first and last in a greeting but I’d repeated my full name so many times that day it fell out, “Star Smart.” Her response made the sleep that had felt so close impossible. She answered quietly and sweetly, “NO, I’m Star Smart.” Her deep even breaths followed. Sleep came easily and quickly for her eluded me next for weeks.
I’d been trapped in situations before but this one had no immediate way out. I’d been cuffed, searched, striped, and stowed away, I thought sleep no matter how lousy could soothe the pain. Locked door, dark room, one other body motionless in the opposite corner. Exhausted I silently climbed into the squeaky cot. She barely broke the silence with her informal greeting, “Who are you?” It was unusual to give my first and last in a greeting but I’d repeated my full name so many times that day it fell out, “Star Smart.” Her response made the sleep that had felt so close impossible. She answered quietly and sweetly, “NO, I’m Star Smart.” Her deep even breaths followed. Sleep came easily and quickly for her eluded me next for weeks.
UMBRA
GHOST IMAGES ARE SUBJECTIVE
Grief, it will burn the heart out of you. It will leave blackness inside you that threatens to encompass you. Over time the black hole will get smaller and start to fade. Believe it or not there will be a time when the blackness doesn’t seem big enough you will feel guilt for pleasures, joy, laughter.
GAZING TOWARD ETERNITY
I have a hard time sitting still. Once I experience something my brain starts to drift to what’s beyond. This work explores the idea of being firmly rooted while always looking forward to innovate, to create, and to teach. The piece’s “roots” are titanium coated quartz and its layers hand-formed and fire-sculpted acrylic textile. This process takes many hours, keeping at least part of me still.
Inspired by the album XX by Mino.
Tsunami of Art 2018, UNDR GAPI, Worldwide
On loan, Cica Museum, South Korea May 2019
Inspired by the album XX by Mino.
Tsunami of Art 2018, UNDR GAPI, Worldwide
On loan, Cica Museum, South Korea May 2019
MOMENTO MORI
Myth of the Shadow Sea
12.5”x12.5”x3” Tectonic 2018 Fire sculpted felt and silk Dezful Museum of Art Permanent Collection IRAN
Myth of the Shadow Sea is a piece hand formed and fire sculpted employing hand dyed silk cocoons and felt. The inspiration for this piece is the idea of adventurers who sail under the shadow of the moon seeking the treasure of a tree laden with Japanese silk worms.
This was my first fire sculpting adventure. It required many more safety tools than I was used to and I was rather uncomfortable. I was heavy influenced by BAP’s Noir album, my favorite piece of music for calming the furthest reaches of my mind and my soul. This is the first creation called Tectonic.
This was my first fire sculpting adventure. It required many more safety tools than I was used to and I was rather uncomfortable. I was heavy influenced by BAP’s Noir album, my favorite piece of music for calming the furthest reaches of my mind and my soul. This is the first creation called Tectonic.
MY OWN VOICE ECHOING BACK AT ME
12.5”x12.5”x3” Tectonic 2018 Fire sculpted felt, howlite SOLD Provence, France
Sand fascinates me. I love the look of it, its texture, the way it feels beneath my feet. I’m in awe of the many intricate sand castles I have watched Greg build as I lie across its expanse under an umbrella. I treasure each piece of beach glass, especially when I find a collected piece next to my coffee cup or laptop.
I often think of my memories like grains of sand, accumulated and blowing around. That was the inspiration for my most recent piece, as I layered and fire sculpted the waves into place. The howlite drilled but left empty with the purpose of what is yet to come. Press It by Taemin playing me through the many hours.
I often think of my memories like grains of sand, accumulated and blowing around. That was the inspiration for my most recent piece, as I layered and fire sculpted the waves into place. The howlite drilled but left empty with the purpose of what is yet to come. Press It by Taemin playing me through the many hours.
FISSURES-EARTH
FISSURES-FIRE
12”x12”x2” Tectonic 2018 Fire sculpted felt and wool
Scars…Wounds…Seen…Unseen
If a soul trusts you enough to share them with you
Know that you are treasured
If a soul trusts you enough to share them with you
Know that you are treasured
Empathy
7”D Token 2018 Fire sculpted felt and wool
AVAILABLE
Empathy is a manipulated work of fiber using layers of felt and heat to achieve shape, edge, and depth. It is the first creation called Tokens.
The depth of loss and the continued rebuilding after The Great Japan Earthquake and Tsunami was my inspiration for this piece. Further inspiration for this piece was ‘Satellite’ by SALTNPAPER.
It is part of The United Nations Relief Organizaion's Tsunami Awareness 2017.
The depth of loss and the continued rebuilding after The Great Japan Earthquake and Tsunami was my inspiration for this piece. Further inspiration for this piece was ‘Satellite’ by SALTNPAPER.
It is part of The United Nations Relief Organizaion's Tsunami Awareness 2017.