Advanced Fiber Studio (Highlights)
Conveying spontaneity and wonder are the foundations of my artwork. Comics, Claymation, puppets, fairytales, embroidery, and the handmade movement influence me. As I am very much a “hands on” person, I value D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) ethics and enjoy vigorous handmade processes like felting, silk-screening, or creating stop- motion animations. Narrative stories – real or imagined are the driving forces behind my practice. This leads me to be attracted to materials that are embedded with their own narrative like Paper mâché, wool roving, glass beads, and tomato cages. I believe these materials lend accessibility to my art since they are easy to come across or produce.
I value art that is accessible and community-based. I am interested in the way art can create empathy across different communities of people and how we can organize meaning from shared experiences. This collaborative approach to storytelling and performing is apparent in television shows such as Pee Wee’s Playhouse. The whimsical and absurd nature of this show inspired my most recent piece for the BFA exhibition. I created a deep-sea installation complete with felt sea anemones and a human- sized Squid puppet, which required a performer to be inside of it in order to be active. It was a fulfilling experience to create an installation in which both children and adults could enjoy.