ARTIST STATEMENT:

My project is an exploration of human identity and self-discovery. The images I choose to use are often simple images. Ones that are seen on an everyday basis and in some instances could be considered story book-esque, an influenced aspect of my illustration background. The images simplicity is balanced with the complexity of the embroidery stitches and elaborate beadwork. The attention to detail draws the eyes of the viewer around the image while engaging them to be in a relationship to the artist’s personal experiences. I chose to put the images on a quilted background to give an illusion of comfort and closeness, much like a favorite family heirloom blanket. The heavy blanketed feel and texture surrounded by the satin border helps mask the harsh truth that life can often bring onto our shoulders while also illuminating the more positive experiences that can come from everyday lessons. The quotes are taken from personal experiences of what I find to be !
true. The strange and difficult journey to my own contentment. It is sharing and extremely intimate and private side to my own human conditions and forces the audience to become the voyeur to my story. It shows a boldness that is worth the pain and embarrassment to make a connection that someone else might be able to relate to. These are my epiphanies, much like a musician will write the words to their own experiences, mine are written with thread on fabric.
I've always been interested in the bright and shiny cheap objects as opposed to the sleek and sophisticated. I believe a lot of my influences have come from similar art, such as the black bold lines and contrasting colors of a fresh tattoo or the elaborate floral patterns on Turkish pottery. Time spent in the southwest formed an appreciation of Mexican Day of the Dead art and the patterns found in Native American art. Another major influence came from my babysitter, who when I was very young planted the seed of needlework that would later bloom into a growing obsession in my young adolescence
The concept is a melding of old and new, the old being the lost art of embroidery, something often considered archaic and a sexist activity of obsolete form by today's standards, while the new is bringing in the contemporary images and pushing them to relate to today's audiences. I don't want to just create images with thread. I want to create paintings with materials that I believe are under-appreciated and underused by taking them to a level that has not been seen or done. I am slowly building up with experience and understanding of my materials to more complex images and larger canvases to consistently challenge myself.
My audience isn't specified to one or two groups. The art is not political or social or sexual, it's all of them and more. Every human on this earth has struggled with his or her identity at one point or another. Some people such as myself have always believed that this journey was going to be an easy and quick one, that one day I would just wake up and know who I am. Unfortunately, that has never been the case. My journey continues now and will always bring new discoveries and lessons until the day I die. I am simply sharing my experiences with the world in hopes that a connection will be made with another individual that has or is in the same place as I. I believe that is the ultimate discovery...that we are all humans sharing in the same lives our struggles with one another.

Exhibitions/Awards:

2003-
Shakabook group show. Meridian Gallery, San Francisco, CA

The Tephlon Tiffany and A.LO show. East Gallery at California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA

2004-
Over Hung group show. Boontling Gallery, Oakland, CA

BFA solo show. Center Gallery at California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA

2005-
Hung Over group show. Boontling Gallery, Oakland, CA

Local Voices group show. Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA

2006-
Hung Low group show. Boontling Gallery, Oakland, CA

By the Hand group show. Bedford Gallery, Oakland, CA

2007-
LTC+1 group show. M1 Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2008-
Local Voices group show. Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA