“My work is an exploration of my soul life. My exploration of form, both abstract as well as natural, comes from questions such as, what is the meaning beneath form? Within form? Why does a certain form evoke a certain feeling? I sit with the beauty of Nature; I court understanding. It is a slow process, and within it I discover more of myself; for I am nature, too. In the process of creating art, I work myself out, I transmute, I clarify. It’s all very universal; narrative, color, gesture, and form arise.
I trust the hidden inner wisdom that already lives within me. Through creating art, I discover and acknowledge myself beyond verbal language or definition. The Grace I find within aesthetic harmony soothes the complexity and intensity of my human experience; and helps me discover and hold meaning, even if unnamable.”
“I have always been a deeply sensitive person, struck deeply by the experience of being a human. The world has both fed and ravaged me with its beauty, stories, poignance, incredible pain and cruelty; all building into the immense intelligence of its unfolding lessons: the content of these stories we live. If I do not move the emotion, inspiration, and raw energy I am unwell. Art is the arena of this process, this presence, and where I can direct and organize my experiences. My ordering, harmonizing, arranging, composing, and creating have become something of a digestive process, helping me get through many difficult times, allowing me to feel that I can sift through the chaos and re arrange myself into the correct composition; always with Nature to guide me.
I was born and spent my youth on the East Coast of the United States, whose competitive and fierce social orientation I was happy to leave. I have spent a few interims in the Midwest, including Fairfield, IA to which I still return, but otherwise I have spent my whole adult life in the Rockies. I arrived in Denver where my parents had moved and then worked at Naropa University living in Eldorado Canyon before finding Paonia. Life out here has proven beautiful, harsh, vast, and healing in contrast to my early life; largely due to the wilderness and more natural lifestyle. Paonia has taught me much about natural rhythms, limitation, and what it means to live close to the land.
All the phases of my time in the Rockies have taught me different things and played important roles in my healing and integration as a person. The creeks, trails, mountains, and people have been a guide for me into myself; and I see all the parts as teachers and teachings. To me, the spirits of place act as the elders within this family which I had always longed for; one that is whole, wholesome, and complete. Even with the incredible support of Nature – It’s yours, too! – I have had to spend a lot of time getting a hold on what it means to have a center place, and even more in figuring out how to listen to this place and let it guide me.
Understanding the cohesion between the parts of a life including what makes up your food, nourishment of more refined kinds, and home have been an important part of this journey. Art is always a key part of my emotional digestion and the way by which I can understand things (as I am a very kinesthetic learner) and I also use it to pay my respects to this great family of which I am a part. I have developed an extensive process-based orientation to creating art. I am exploring, inwardly and outwardly. I am now expanding from primarily 2-dimensional art and writing into new arenas of expression through performance, narrative, and finding ways to work within community. Art and living have a lot to do with each other. They reinforce and support and reflect each other constantly.”
