Grad School Artist Statement
My work explores the public and private experience of social engagement: I collaborate with strangers in the public sphere to create time-based work that makes visible the invisible to inspire self-reflection, thoughts, and human connection. As an interdisciplinary artist, my work focuses on generating text through public research and investigating time-based private performances. This includes many elements and mediums that explore the materiality of language: sound, new media, typography, handmade books, and printmaking. Through the use of language and social engagement in the public sphere, I explore everyday life, which opens a dialogue, allowing me to investigate different avenues to create narratives. My body of work explores different aspects of society while in public whether it is a private or public moment. My work taps into the human psyche as we travel through the public sphere. I seek to give our private thoughts a voice, and our public thoughts an amplifier. By giving them a voice, it empowers their creators and allows us to stop, listen, enjoy and realize that everyone, all around us, drinks from the same cup of humanness. I do not want to manipulate the public but I am interested in documenting them as a work of art. I consider myself a collector, observer, and artist.
Undergrad School Artist Statement
I work primarily with printmaking which is sometimes augmented with my photographic techniques. I am most intrigued by the processes used in printmaking. The methods used to prepare stencils, wood blocks, linoleum blocks, and type take more time than the actual printing, which makes me appreciate a successful outcome even more. This is especially true for letterpress, which is my favorite medium. I love every little component in letterpress from the type and the linocuts, to the spacers and furniture. Letterpress is well adapted to the perfectionist in me because you have to have perseverance as well as dedication when working with this medium.
My art is inspired from my life experiences. My travels and my family are very important to me; they are often the subjects of my expression. Through the use of texture I try to make my memories tactile and tangible. The technique of texture, real or implied, is consistent throughout my work. My prints show the textural effects of such things as wood grain and lace. Through layering and overlapping with colors, I am able to express emotions that are difficult for me to articulate. I use transparent inks to create rich color and depth. When printing I plan everything out ahead of time, leaving room for possible changes. The idea of working back into a print makes me very conscience of the potential of my designs, however; not knowing the outcome excites me. My processes are complex and require many steps but I enjoy experimenting with different techniques. A new found outlet for me is bookmaking, which gives me a different way to record my life history. I use my printmaking and photography skills in my books. The combination of my printmaking and bookbinding techniques help me to document my life experiences.
