Artist Statement

From the subterranean networks teeming beneath our feet to the interconnected web of tree canopies above, and the myriad plant and animal life in between, the natural world becomes nearly invisible in an environment where technology and consumerism continually compete for our attention.  The same can often be said about the materials that envelop our body and surroundings every day; we rarely pause to consider their making.  In a culture that has increasingly favored speed above reflection, overabundance above sufficiency, and the synthetic above the natural, how can we reimagine our approach to material-making in a more ecologically-responsible way?  Can biomaterials act as a conduit for storytelling that reconnects us to the natural world by provoking our attention, creating an emotional connection and encouraging empathy?

My work seeks to transform natural biopolymers, dyes, and native plants into evocative materials that reflect the beautiful and ephemeral qualities inherent in nature.  Melding the artistic practices of weaving, embroidery and sculpture, with the scientific practice of chemistry, I explore form, pattern, color and texture as means to rediscover and celebrate the cultural and environmental importance of nature to our collective ecosystem.  My research is rooted in six themes: material reimagination, the local, nature as storyteller, the evocation of emotion, ephemerality and collaboration.  Through my work, I aim to disrupt our current approach to material-making by reconnecting the human-nature relationship and inspiring a new way of envisioning what a material can and should be.