Statement

A central theme in my work is the interconnectivity between all things in nature. I explore this idea by taking disparate natural elements - human, animal and botanical, and weaving them together to create new forms. My work also draws from a deep connection I feel with the art of ancient civilizations, particularly Pre-Columbian, Egyptian and Hindu. I am intrigued by how art in the ancient past was used as a way to connect with otherworldly realms and to represent beings that dwelled there. I experience the creation of my work as playing in this ancient tradition of making objects that represent such otherworldly beings or deities, and in the process, am allowing my own mythology to emerge along with suggested narratives.

I intentionally create an element of ambiguity in my work to allow for a myriad of interpretations. While the creatures could be understood as beings from other dimensions or the deities of an ancient civilization, they could also be seen as characters from a dreamscape, or the unintended result of genetic engineering.

Although I initially began exploring these themes as a painter, my work gradually evolved into a process in which I combine sculpture and digital photography. I refer to this process as "sculptography." In this process I use my own sculptures as a primary subject matter in my photographs. I create the sculptures using clay, resin and acrylic paint. I integrate the sculpture into a natural environment which I then photograph, incorporating various elements of the landscape into the composition and narrative. I work with the seasonal variations, different terrains, and various elements that nature provides, such as rocks, water, branches, foliage, etc. Locations have included the woods of rural Connecticut and the mountains of upstate New York.

Travel has served as a tremendous source of inspiration in my work. I was profoundly inspired by a trip to South India, where I visited temple complexes with extraordinary carvings and sculptures. Also deeply inspiring have been trips to Mexico and Guatemala where I had opportunities to view the ruins and sculpture of Mayan and other indigenous civilizations.

Important contemporary influences on my work include Ana Mendieta and Andy Goldsworthy and their collaborations with nature. I am also inspired by the whimsical quality of Tom Otterness' work as well as Charles Simmonds' sculptures reminiscent of Native American cliff dwellings.