artist's statement
My current work combines paper, thread and paint that creates the vehicle of expression for my curiosity about the natural world, human interactions and the cosmos. We swirl in a pool of conflict, community, love, hatred, expansion and contraction. My work attempts to conjure up the energy and beauty of this great mystery.
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biography
Paper, thread, paper detritus and paint combine to form the vehicle for my curiosity about the natural world, human interactions and the cosmos.
Born and raised in Oakland, CA I was exposed to many social and political movements, and developed a close relationship to the natural wonders of the bay area.
I graduated from UC Berkeley with a Dean's Award in painting, moved to NY to explore political art and on my return to San Francisco I enrolled in a program at CCSF and began a career in graphic design.
In addition I've worked en plein air and taught watercolor nature journaling workshops, all the while developing an art form I call abstract sewing.
abstract sewing
The surface I use aligns with my commitment to leaving a small footprint with my artwork. The pieces can essentially be rolled up and fixed to a wall with magnets when shown.
Watercolor paper detritus and minimal acrylic paints are applied to Lokta paper made from a local Nepalese plant that has gauze embedded on the back for stability during sewing. Paper detritus is tossed onto the surface at random and attached with machine stitching. As the layers become more complex I discover how they connect, paying close attention to the language the work is speaking through various marks, colors, juxtaposition of elements and happy accidents.
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I am deeply grateful to the people of Nepal who craft Lokta paper. Learn more about Lokta paper, its source, and the efforts of Lama-Li to educate employees' children.
alchemy
Reactive acrylic “surfacers” interact with mild acids to create true rust and patina on the canvas, revealing themselves over the course of a few hours or days depending on heat and humidity. A pencil grid begins to “define the chaos” creating a structure that holds the dialogue between a variety of shapes and textures.