artist statement

I see a correlation between my fascination with old domestic objects and the generational trauma that comes hand in hand with poverty. The items I’m drawn to are worn, dingy, unwanted, and they hold so much history. These items seem familiar to me, so I collect them. And this is where my work begins.

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Antique light fixtures have become a particular interest of mine. In healthy circumstances, light means safety in a similar way that the home should mean safety. Turning old lamps and light fixtures upside down is my way of upending the idea that home = safety, because for many of us, that was not the case.

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By assembling sculpture and installations with domestic items, I create & transform spaces for the viewer to explore and experience. My work comes from a personal investigation of developmental trauma, rural poverty, and delicate family ties.

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“In order to overcome trauma, people need to feel safe enough to open up their hearts and minds to others and become engaged with new possibilities. This can only be done if trauma survivors, and their communities, are helped to confront and confess the reality of what has happened and are helped to feel safe again.”

-Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. (author of The Body Keeps the Score)