When The Roots Break The Concrete – Artist Statement

“My pieces depict psychological cabinets of curiosity, inspired by all that is Gothic. Flattened architectural elements, drawn in acrylic pen and painted with gouache and watercolor, are loosely based on partial sections and elevations of historical structures. They feature “windows” made of photographs and digital collages. The collages are exposed as cyanotypes, overlaying parts with solvent transfers.

The compartmentalized architectural elements are an organizational tool, allowing the mind to wander through and to discover what is within. It can feel a bit ominous, similar to the sensation of going through a haunted house or taking in horror fiction. These surrealistic vignettes are an invitation to project and experience emotions, especially anxieties.

Most of the pieces in this show are directly inspired by the District, especially Capitol Hill, my former home. Walking around the Hill, I notice ancient trees with roots so large, they are literally bursting the sidewalks around them. It seems to me that, having witnessed so much history and change, they are trying to stand their ground by expanding beyond their assigned place. It makes me think of the idea of rootedness in contrast to being stuck in place, and how there can be opposite ways of looking at a situation.”