Artist Statement:

Patterns and systems are integral to the work I make.  I look for evidence of imperfection that generates specific patterns of decay.  An arrangement of cat scratches, aging skin or an oil spill on the pavement becomes my starting point.  My process involves the accumulation of minutia to form a critical mass.  By repurposing materials traditionally associated with the home and "homemaking", i.e. pins, embroidery and silk, new forms are created in order to address contemporary cultural constructs.

The silk works explore the nature of disease and cellular systems in relation to patterns of human behavior.  My objective is to make a sculptural painting that transcends the boundary of the canvas.  These works are not dyed.  Rather, they go through a lengthy process that includes the application of pigment, ink, acrylic, bleach and sometimes compost until the intended painterly effect is achieved.  In my work, silk performs similar to a layer of epidermis. It is translucent, yet deceptively strong, maintaining the shape of organ like forms and cell structures.  Because the original objects are removed, a sculptured contour drawing takes shape in three dimensional space.  The result is a bodily landscape that considers the role of the human body in the discourse of the cultural object.

The works on paper further investigate the issues and painterly queries that are relevant in my work.