The aim of my work is to engage viewers in an interactive dialogue, challenging assumptions, piquing curiosity, and sharing experiences. I want to lure the viewer out of their comfort zone and challenge them to experience themselves in relation to my work.
My work reveals what I hold sacred in everyday life, exploring both the profound and the whimsical. One day, I may concentrate on encouraging children to learn through books, or I may explore the fantasies, magic, or myths contained within the pages of those books. Another day, I may be creating awareness of social needs in our communities and society at large. In particular, I have a passion for using art as a means of addressing mental health concerns such as teen suicide, depression, and bipolar disorder. I believe art can raise awareness, inspire important conversations, and be a source of healing. Common to all my work are the nuances of the human experience that strike a chord in the viewer.
The human figure is my vehicle to explore the meaning of daily existence and its greater mysteries. Our bodies are both very fragile and yet extremely resilient, and my work embodies this paradox. I create classical figures, but also use exaggeration and distortion to produce a more powerful psychological effect. I utilize a variety of materials to impact the mood or feel of my work. I use bronze, concrete, colorful mosaic tile, and cold casting each providing a different way to convey the subject to the viewer.
In the end, my goal is to evoke a very personal reaction from my audience. If I can make you laugh at yourself, I consider that an accomplishment. At the other end of the spectrum, I acknowledge that life can be challenging and serious; if I can create a lump in your throat or send blood racing through your temples, I'll take that, too. Any emotion generated from art reveals the mutual bond we have with one another, be it positive or negative. So laugh at my work or laugh with it, or even yell at it, but please don't just walk by it.
