Biographical Information:
While completing my M.F.A., I spent an exchange year in Japan, which greatly influenced me. The meditative quality of Zen resonated with me and found its way into my work. There is a concept in Zen called "Beginner's Mind", in which the practitioner works to remain aware of the moment and not allow preconceptions and familiarity to close it off. This is the inspiration for my work. As surprising marks and effects occur, they are incorporated and change the painting, creating a constant focus and imparting vitality. I paint because I love the quality of the paint itself. The flow and physicality of the paint is important to me, and I work in a gestural style, often using my hands, paper towels, or palette knife for paint application. This imparts a sensuous quality of touch to the work.
Artist Statement:
The inspiration for this series of paintings is the beauty that can be found in disintegration and decay. The Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi, the appreciation of the transitory and imperfect nature of life, informs this work. In the paintings, partially obscured ghost images refer to the uncontrollability of nature and the impermanent quality of life. Imperfection and degradation are central to it. In our culture, youth and vitality are celebrated almost exclusively, yet disintegration, death and decay are also an integral part of life. In these paintings I am trying to recast this part of the life cycle as something beautiful that should be appreciated.
