Abstract
The variety of media I employ aims to capture the different lenses in which I engage with the land. I move frequently, which at times can make me feel rootless and homesick, but without a place to call home. My studio practice serves as a tool for me to build a deeper connection with my immediate landscape and cultivate an understanding of the places I am at.
I make paintings, drawings, and natural fiber sculptures that relate to the land. My work is often related to trees; I use them both as subjects and materials. The landscape drawings act as a journal of sorts, documenting and retaining memories for both myself and others. With the materials I gather- grass, bark, pine needles, leaves, branches, and more- I weave and braid 2D and 3D forms. The forms reference the world around me: the trees, the clouds, the mountains, people. As I weave, I think about people thousands of years ago, weaving with the same materials, walking on the same ground.
I am increasingly motivated to work more sustainably by choosing my materials with care and awareness of the environmental impacts they will have. By gathering my materials locally, I hope to make the viewer aware of these replenishable gifts we have access to. I believe that we are each linked through our existence on Earth and see my interpretations of the land as a way to connect us to each other and the natural world.