I am fascinated by the cast-off elements of peoples’ lives. My grandma is 94. She loves to share her childhood stories over and over again of ice skating on the frozen ponds in Bristol, Conneticut, or the days of ballroom dancing. She still has the red silk dress from her dancing days hanging in the closet. At some point she will throw this away. My passion is to find these long loved objects and re-animate them into something that may trigger a forgotten memory.

I want to capture history and loss in my sculpture. I love thinking about the previous life and story that each and every object holds. What do I do with the discarded stack of letters from 1940 or the knitted apron? I feel a sadness in my heart as I study their past, touch the stains, investigate the faded and worn spots of the discarded letter, apron, cup, or suit. There is a story, like the ones my grandma shares with me, and I can only imagine it. Through my art, I conjure up a narrative by giving castoffs new identities, inspirations, and lives. This process inspires me to create sculptures that speak to the universal experience of our discarded layers and todays detritus that once was a daily part of our lives.

It is difficult to think of how often my grandma is alone with her memories and the objects around her apartment. One day she will pass away and we will have to sort through all her stuff, and some of it may go into the landfill. These are the things I am looking for. Items that have been stored away for many years.

I spend a long time imagining ways in which these old objects, from the 30‘s, 40‘s or 50‘s, might co-exist in a thought provoking manner-- old chairs, shoes, fabrics, pieces of wood, discarded appliances, and the like. What do these and similar discarded items have in common, either inherently or artistically? What is their history? What might be hidden inside? What is their uniqueness?

At some point in my process, the elements come together to form sculptures that provoke feelings like what an uncle or grandpa use to say, cook or wear. When we shed our old layers, get rid of the old photographs or the wedding dress, we can forget about the people and stories connected to that object. Through my art and my love for the past I am attempting to remind you of those memories. Sometimes these shed layers and cast-offs are meant to be forgotten and lost, yet I believe they are always a part of who we are.


ALL ART WORK IS FOR SALE