Bio
As a child, I spent most of my time outdoors. Predominately growing up in Michigan but living for several years in Rwanda with my family. While living in Africa I became very interested in culture and its important role in conflict prevention and resolution. I received my Bachelors in Anthropology at Michigan State University, focusing on the intersection of culture and environment. I cultivated a passion for sustainable agriculture after having volunteered on many organic farms throughout Europe while researching my senior thesis comparing organic farming perceptions in Western vs. Eastern Europe, and having worked on a project that teaches sustainable agricultural techniques to a small farming communities in Costa Rica. Shortly after graduating I moved to Telluride, Colorado, where I helped small businesses with logo creation and product labels, while working as an artist, musician and theatrical actress. After graduating with an MBA in Sustainable Business from Colorado State University, I came to understand and appreciate business as a powerful force that dictates the health of our society and environment. By intentionally creating business to function symbiotically with society and the environment we can begin to reverse the mistakes of previous generations, striving towards balance and harmony.
Artist Statement
Reality is an observed opinion, and the “true” forms that are individually seen by each human are inexplicably linked to memory and mood. Influenced by what that person ate for breakfast, or to the song that was last playing on the radio. These subtleties help to form our unique perception of a seemingly objective world. I create art to reinforce the truth of subjectivity; a multifaceted story. Painting an object by how it feels and smells, colors connected to my childhood mixing with the incessantly churning present and future. Figures often resemble shadows or mirrors, sideways glances. Like an inkblot, there is no wrong or right; the viewer is liberated by using their individual perception to decipher the images.
When I paint, I paint everything I know to be true. Because everything is connected; you cannot paint an apple without alluding to the tree, or rain, or homemade pies, the smell of cinnamon, warmth, joy. Plants and animals inspire me. Natural rhythms, canyons carved by water, rivers making their bed, mountains being pushed up and pulled down. There is a beautiful code in these patterns. They are comfortable while being incredibly intricate. Both symmetric and erratic. Weaving these patterns into my paintings of the human experience is my way of understanding the wild entropy of the universe, and in turn, better understanding myself. I see the transformative power of artistic expression and its ability to increase aptitude for communication and critical thinking, and aim to globally increase the opportunities for this growth.