Now Showing --Small Works*
DEC 1 - 31st
At Hespe Gallery San Francisco: Hespe.com
My body of work is inspired by a hidden and quiet side of my childhood; juxtaposing peculiar and darker experiences with the imaginary protection of animals. Fearful moments, made brighter by sharing and understanding secrets with animal "friends". These paintings of life moments are augmented and playfully set along with current stories of my present. In some pieces the animals themselves are able to share the emotions that often seem minute.
As a child, I spent weekends visiting my mother at work, employed as a zookeeper and aquarium show diver. I became fascinated early on with animal behavior, and carried pockets full of doodles around, as I imagined these animals as my chit chat friends. I spent many of my younger years pretending they would protect me in opposing moments and that they could understand the parts of my mind and heart that I kept quiet. As a painter, I have tried to express the lightness these relationships offered, creating playful and sometimes just silly paintings.
I hope viewers will look at my work as a vehicle into understanding and relating to animals in a stronger light. An important facet of my work in using animals is to expose the viewers mind to become more aware of the the relationships between animals and humans. The needs to rescue and efforts to save mistreated and abused animals. To remind the viewer to question the undermining of animal habitats and farming that cause animals extreme and unnecessary pain, as they are forced into settings with no other choice.
DEC 1 - 31st
At Hespe Gallery San Francisco: Hespe.com
My body of work is inspired by a hidden and quiet side of my childhood; juxtaposing peculiar and darker experiences with the imaginary protection of animals. Fearful moments, made brighter by sharing and understanding secrets with animal "friends". These paintings of life moments are augmented and playfully set along with current stories of my present. In some pieces the animals themselves are able to share the emotions that often seem minute.
As a child, I spent weekends visiting my mother at work, employed as a zookeeper and aquarium show diver. I became fascinated early on with animal behavior, and carried pockets full of doodles around, as I imagined these animals as my chit chat friends. I spent many of my younger years pretending they would protect me in opposing moments and that they could understand the parts of my mind and heart that I kept quiet. As a painter, I have tried to express the lightness these relationships offered, creating playful and sometimes just silly paintings.
I hope viewers will look at my work as a vehicle into understanding and relating to animals in a stronger light. An important facet of my work in using animals is to expose the viewers mind to become more aware of the the relationships between animals and humans. The needs to rescue and efforts to save mistreated and abused animals. To remind the viewer to question the undermining of animal habitats and farming that cause animals extreme and unnecessary pain, as they are forced into settings with no other choice.
