Artist Statement

My artistic journey was inspired by love for my daughter and the desire to preserve cherished memories. Beginning during pregnancy with handmade curtains and a crib quilt, I went on to craft various pieces for her birthdays. These included photo books documenting our family’s journey, collections of her childhood artwork and cards, and a quilted blanket on which I appliquéd her baby clothes. Each piece was intended to preserve memories and become a lasting keepsake.

Our family was a blend of different cultures—I am white and Jewish, my ex-husband is Black and from Barbados, his biological and my chosen son’s mother is from Belize, and our daughter is bi-racial. This brought both richness and challenges. Navigating intergenerational trauma and abuse, mental illness, systemic racism, and other isms, shaped our experiences. We did the best we could. Despite best efforts, these challenges sometimes created divides, which ultimately contributed to my daughter’s estrangement during her adult years. Grappling with overwhelming feelings of pain, grief, shame, and guilt, I began working with collage.

Perhaps my artwork, which involves piecing together and blending various materials and designs, was a metaphor for my desire to heal and reconnect.

Fabric and paper are my primary mediums because of their rich textures. I am particularly attracted to Japanese and African designs. My time living in Japan for nearly two years instilled in me a deep appreciation for simplicity, the thoughtful use of space, nature, and integrating functionality with beauty. Similarly, African art blends functionality and beauty. I am particularly drawn to the textures and patterns found in African wax fabrics, which often feature rich color, such as gold and black, giving them a regal elegance. Both Japanese and African fabrics frequently include shapes and symbols which are wonderful to cut out and use in my collages.

Through my creations, I strive to create beauty and harmony – qualities that are often elusive in fractured relationships but are deeply needed in our world.