Process

I had an amazing opportunity this summer to work with my former church on a project. While I was working on it I was not allowed to talk about it as it was part of a larger project that had not gone public yet. So, here I was all summer working on a project that was interesting and challenging… and I could not share about it. The final work is finally hanging in the church, it is on my webpage (to read more about it and see all of the pictures go here.) One of the coolest things about the project for me personally was to create a work on a reclaimed door from the sanctuary. Not just any door but the door to the choir loft. Seriously literal door to my happy place for a decade was in my studio. Probably a good thing too as it was very large, heavy and an all around challenge physically.

The other element that I did not get to talk about at the time was the act of transcribing the reconciliation statement. It was a lot of writing! Because I had to write it several times as practice and in the process of writing in silver, I really had an opportunity to connect with the language in a deeper way. I would actually recommend to any one (especially the folks at FPC) to consider coping the words of the statement by hand several times as a meditation. See where it takes you.

Reconciliation and Repentance on my living room floor.

This summer marks the beginning of something new. I am shifting my attention to focus on my work as an artist. With a new direction and new work coming on line, a redesign of my website was in order. As I began to redevelop the site, I searched for an anchor image – something that was visually solid to hold the space. I found myself returning again and again to this image from 2013. It seemed odd to use something old for the new site, but this image shows my roots, the foundation for the work that follows.

Taken in the studio at Wesley Seminary, the image is of a preliminary sketch for my Extravagant Gift exhibition later that same year. I had worked out the tree installation in a scale model but this was my first attempt creating dimensional cuttings at full size. At the time, I was not even sure that it was going to work. Behind the paper trial is a large silverpoint drawing of a tree. Another first, as it was an unusually large drawing for that medium and for me. This image was later used as the post card for the exhibition.

So why this image for the future? Paper and thread, line and surface, trees and roots; all of these elements are central to my work. But the image shows something else that is important. This is not a completed work. The image represents a thought process that launched a whole new body of work. It is my willingness to go out on a limb and try something even when there is no existing template for what I want. This is the heart of my practice, to follow the work where it leads, to listen deeply to the stories the materials are telling me, and to gather the treads together into something new.

More images will be added to the galleries and more stories will be shared. Please check back as there will be new work online soon.

Keeping Secrets

A new beginning

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