Open Waves Series
Open Waves is inspired by afternoons at the beach, when time slows and there is an ease to bring present. Colors seem brighter. The breath deepens. There is a beautiful complexity and profound simplicity all at once. If we pay attention, the Earth shows us how to hold it all - the pain, the joy, and the nuance of everything in between.
Over the years, I’ve developed a painting process that includes countless layers of watercolor, acrylic, and thread. The process of cutting and tearing paintings and stitching them back together is inspired by crazy quilting and the idea that something beautiful can come from the scraps. It can take a long time, but I love the process and the continuing evolution of working in this way. For this series, I asked myself what it would look like to stay loose and abstract while maintaining my overall themes of community, connection, and hope. This effort aligns with the spaces that inspired this collection - they are expansive places that feel grounded, free, and at peace.
As a woman with identities of queer, Jewish, mother, and someone who tends toward seeing the darker side of things, the world can feel like a hateful place with endless reasons to worry. It would be easy to succumb to apathy or depression, but it is central to all my identities to be intentional about the life I am creating. I embrace practices that help me stay grounded and intentional on a daily basis and my creative practice is a part of that. It is one way that I work to make the world a more loving and beautiful place.
Collectors often say that my work makes them feel inspired, hopeful, and at peace. I am dedicated to bringing about more feelings of connection and encouraging others to consider their place in the community of all things large and small, and in relation to the past, present, and future.