Academics

Current CV

RESEARCH STATEMENT

There are divergent and complementary themes in my research. The first involves transforming the idea of a book, breaking down the structure and page. The primary media I use are alternative book structures (unconventional folds, invented bindings), handmade paper, letterpress printing, historic pattern, and organic/found objects. I am learning digital processes that can be used in conjunction with this work.

Another theme is of a more scientific bent, researching and making work that responds to Colony Collapse Disorder (the phenomenon of abrupt apiary disappearance), its social/economic implications, and demonstrating how art can work toward social change and serve as a problem-solving mechanism. The artwork proposes metaphors and connections between seemingly disparate elements of the problem with the hope that a solution will be found in/inspired by viewers’ observations and an understanding of these correlations. This work uses similar materials as the books but is presented in a traditional two-dimensional, fine art format.

Equally important is the collaborative work I am doing with Kristin Thielking and the Catching a Wave collective on the ocean and its cultural, economic, and anthropological significance. I have a vested interest in sea level rise, which is impacting the place I live. The complexity of our relationship with the ocean and its rich metaphorical, aesthetic and poetic possibilities emphasize the idea that water and the oceans serve as a link between all living things. Regard for bodies of water, constantly shifting and essential for all life, can spark thought, reflection, and dialogue about the radical changes to our oceans and the environment.

The unity between these themes is my representation of connections between interpersonal, sociopolitical, and environmental relationships, and deepening the visual and verbal experiences of reading.