Artist Statement

My assemblages are autobiographical in content, and often surrealistic. I try to convey the emotions surrounding events. I create thru the lens of my career as an art therapist.

Once objects are paired together, a narrative emerges. I start having a “dialogue” with my artwork. Even though dialoguing sounds like I am having a conversation with inanimate objects, this is a process where I’m asking myself questions and giving myself answers. By externalizing the conversation, it helps the meaning become more accessible to me. This helps unearth my subconscious feelings so I can move forward with a clear intent. I use basic theories from art therapy concerning symbolism and color. I consider how they represent or relate to specific emotions. While the specifics of my life events might be mired in symbolism within my work, there are universal emotions present in which the viewer can relate.

Because my process and feelings filter thru my subconscious, I often end up with a surrealistic outcome. By disregarding the original purpose of an item, changing the scale of certain parts within the work, or by placing together items that juxtapose one another, the appearance of the piece is usually dream-like. My work presents a different view of the human experience. Sometimes the viewer can see parts of my own story within the work and sometimes their own life experiences inform their interpretation. My goal is to tell my story in my own way, process my emotions, and have the viewer connect with my work on an emotional level.