I paint to create a certain sacred silence, silence of cloth-canvas, silence of pigments, silence of movement. Silence of the figure.
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I paint large scale oil paintings on vintage fabrics or clothing. A tablecloth as I see it, is a receptacle for tears, shouts, blessings, and curses-a canvas for emotions. The images I paint suggest an inner realm where the spirit is both protected and exposed. When contemplating the concepts that come up in my art-female dependence and independence, beauty, violence, and vulnerability- I consider these questions: what does it mean to be abandoned by country/family? How does strife shape us?
Where do you find inspiration?I find inspiration in the beauty of the natural world, when I walk through the woods, in the beauty of the animal world, when my dog curls up next to me, or I feed my chickens, or milk the goats. I find inspiration when I look at photographs of my relatives, or when I take photographs of places, people, things around me. I find inspiration when I see my children work to defend and preserve this planet. There is inspiration all around, one just has to pay attention, tap into it, then hang on.
What would you do with $25,000?I am wording towards a one woman show at AIR gallery in NYC where I have been a National Member for the past several years. I would like to mount a show of my large scale paintings accompanied by projections and a performance in 2027/28. In preparation I will need to employ a studio assistant to help me with hanging and carpentry as well as photo videographer to assist me with installation, projection, documentation, and promo. Some of my past film/performance work can be seen on my website.
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