My work is an exploration of loss, isolation, and resiliency. I am particularly drawn to elements from the natural world as I search for colors, textures, and scenes that resonate with my feelings of separation and depression. Frozen flora, foggy forests and many shades of blue are just some of the features I have digitally cut up and collaged into this body of work. Much like the Japanese practice of Kintsugi, I use mending and goldwork in my art to embrace and illuminate the missing pieces. It is a gathering up of the brokenness to nurture instead of hide; a way to respect and honor the parts of my story I am tempted to ignore.
My process is both technological and tactile. I begin working on a computer to assemble and alter images which I print on heat transfer paper with pigment based inks. I iron these onto watercolor paper before cutting out and removing parts of the image. After making holes around the gaps I use linen thread to join and cover missing areas. I finish stitching with gold thread to highlight the repairs I have made. I start out engrossed in images, experimenting with various combinations to create an abstract representation of my feelings. I end with a time of reflection through the slow and meditative practice of hand stitching.
