There is so much in our communities, society, and civilization to discover. Consequently my passions are extremely charged and my art is the by-product of human consciousness. I am particularly interested in sculpture because it is a difficult process to make something that not only manifests an idea but also translates our physical world; it involves the same dimensions as our bodies. With appreciation for material integrity, I try to invest in conservation-minded mediums that not only express the content of the work but are also resilient. Transforming found objects, metals, concrete, computer codes, and videography into many of my works has helped me to investigate the culture of current times in order to work out my own intellectual and emotional dilemmas. Biographic interpretations of going to Sunday school, my parents’ accumulation of teapots and acoustic instruments and growing up in West Philadelphia have inspired me to explore endless aesthetic propositions. Themes present in my art range from genealogical dementia, loss, character encounters, desire, and the body.
I admire the visual ideas and self-reflections of conceptual artist Chris Burden, whose performances strategically explore processes involved in discomfort. He promotes viewers to continue to analyze inside themselves. I also enjoy the work of folk-artist Frida Kahlo, whose paintings have a knowledge that goes beyond simply studying the world, into comprehension by experiencing life. Anish Kapoor is another favorite. I find encouragement in how his visceral sculptures have achieved a desirable level of deregulation to the human senses, allowing room for interrogation of the real.
Creating art is my relentless urge to explore sources of anxiety, document interactions, share memories, as well as provides evidence for narrative works that address social, environmental, and technological changes. Similar to a public diary entry, each installation reveals pieces of an evolving story of who we are as people. Creating work that is accessible to all encourages association and compassion. However the most essential part of my work is that I create for my own enjoyment and sometimes without justification.