Really Gotta Go

Through my works, I question why human empathy has invisible limits. Since childhood, I have found myself to be someone who cares deeply for the objects and creatures around me, personifying them to the point of self-made grief at their demise. Though inanimate objects don't contain the internal narratives I imagine for them, perhaps animals could. 

As my works visualize my admiration and curiosity for animals' lives, I've begun focusing largely on those that have been deemed "disposable" such as birds, bugs, fish, and woodland critters. I've formed a connection between them and my personal experiences with mental and physical health issues – as many invisible illnesses are brushed aside, so are the lives of these animals. My creating helps me to actualize my thoughts on how standards of treatment are determined, both within the medical field and between individuals. I make use of campy and cute imagery to engage diverse viewers in nuanced conversations about disability and community. 

Feeling especially drawn to and relating with the goldfish, I have been depicting myself as an anthropomorphic goldfish, and further imagining members of my family as other water-related beings, within my art.  As my cast of characters grow, my interdisciplinary practice allows for me to expand upon them in a variety of mediums and spaces. Most recently, papermaking has been functioning as a way to combine my background of printed matters with my sculptural tendencies. My newfound appreciation for the material has allowed me to see paper as more than just a means to hold an image - it creates a more complete object. As I find care for all the elements that make up my art, I’m creating kin to keep connected with my work and art making in general.