About Me
My Background
I began painting and drawing as a child. My mother would allow me to draw on the walls with chalk and I was never without my sketch book. I did countless drawings to illustrate the stories that I told to myself--stories based on fantasy and myth. Storytelling, oral history, public archives, and conversations at kitchen tables (with people both real and imagined), continue to influence all the many aspects of my work. And I am joyful and grateful to continue to work.
I am inspired by my ancestors who taught me to love and be determined to spread love through my work. "Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place"--Zora Neale Hurston.
Mixed Media
I use many different mediums--photography, painting, textiles, clay, and steel in my original fine art work. As an artist, I am experienced in site-specific installations and have done large scale public artworks in a variety of media.
My Inspiration
In addition to having amazing ancestors to inspire me, I am also inspired by intergenerational connections in the many communities that I have come to know through my research. I am part anthropologist, part artist and often collaborate with community members to re-tell and re-imagine their stories. Their stories allow me to create visual myths that explore a myriad of community issues.
Gallery
