“Mother”

Mixed (posters, brass, incense burner, acrylic, and oil paint on dart board)
25.5 x 44 x 4
2013

My mixed media work is characterized by pops of color, use of texture, inclusion of found objects, and layered symbolic meanings. Mother is an altarpiece. Altarpieces are historically made from fine materials and reserved for sacred places of worship. In this work, a discarded dart board found on the side of the road was transformed with oil paint. An image of Mother Mary, brass lid with inlayed fish, and incense burner were added to the piece. The golden yellow of the sky and shades of brown evoke a sense of warmth. Nature and Mary symbolize the nurturing power of mother. The doors are open like the arms of a mother there for her child, ready to comfort physically and spiritually. It is a reminder that motherhood is sacred.

“Conversation #2”

Mixed (acrylic, conte, doilies, charcoal, glitter, paper, and ceramics on cardboard)
30.75 x 24.75 x .5
2015

I love to experiment, upcycle, and layer. As a result, much of my work is created with multiple techniques and materials.
Conversation #2 started as an old charcoal drawing that was reworked into a new piece using paint, collage, and ceramic. In many cultures and religious traditions, the human skull symbolizes death. Conversation #2 was included in the Día de los Muertos show at Emergent Arts in Hot Springs, AR. Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a holiday celebrating life and death and is a time of communication between the living and the deceased. It includes traditions like displaying colorful calaveras (skulls) on ofrendas (altars) to welcome home souls of loved ones. The splash of color and scattered motifs on Conversation #2 reflect a sense of joy and celebration, how one might feel when they get to talk to a loved one again. During this holiday, the color purple symbolizes mourning. Although there is beauty in this work, the heart is still tinged sadness.