Artwork

Much of my early artwork was an expression of love for my daughter, aimed at preserving cherished memories. When I was pregnant, I crafted a crib quilt and a set of curtains for her room. For her third birthday, I compiled a book filled with photos and stories capturing moments shared with her father and my chosen son, during the years leading up to her birth and throughout her first three years.

On another birthday, I created different types of books for her. One was a treasured collection of all the cards she had made for me over the years, showcasing her love and creativity. The second book I featured her artwork from her earliest years, allowing me to preserve her letters and creations in an accessible format rather than letting them languish in a storage box.

As her next birthday approached, I created a special gift in an art class I attended. I painted a wooded piece, decorated it with cut-out fabric, and coated it in resin. For yet another birthday, I transformed some of her baby and toddler clothes – keepsakes I had cherished – into a quilted blanket. By appliquéing various outfits, from sun dresses to jackets, I aimed to preserve and display these memories rather than keeping them hidden in a closet, Each of these gifts served to create functional pieces that preserved memories and expressed my love, hoped they would become lasting keepsakes.

From about five years before my daughter’s birth until my ex-husband and I divorced, my family was a vibrant blend of cultures. I am white and ethnically Jewish; my ex-husband is Black and born in Barbados; my son’s mother is from Belize; and my daughter is bi-racial. Our differences brought unique challenges, including navigating the legacies of intergenerational trauma and abuse, mental illness, as well as racism, sexism, and other isms. We did the best we could.

After the divorce, when my daughter was about four and my son was roughly fourteen, both kids stayed with me to keep the children together and, of course, they continued to spend time with their father. It was important to me that the family stay together even if my ex-husband and I were no longer married. However, since she graduated from college, my daughter, who was the light of my light and the focus of my existence for almost 20 years, has become estranged from me, with only brief periods of re-connection, and in an out of contact with her father.

I began working with collage soon after my daughter and I became estranged, leaving me grappling with overwhelming feelings of pain, grief, shame, and guilt. I began creating painted wooden boxes decorated with collages of fabric and paper as gifts for my closest friends. I also made some for my daughter as well, which I delivered through them her father. While I may never know the exact reasons this rift, I believe that the pervasive impact of racism and other isms in society played a big part. Perhaps my artwork, which involves piecing together and blending various materials and designs, is an attempt to foster the healing and connection myself and for the world at large. Through my creations, I strive to evoke beauty, harmony, and cohesion – elements that can often be difficult to create in relationships.

I primarily work with fabric and paper because I appreciate their rich textures. I have a particular affinity for Japanese and African designs. My experience of living in Japan for nearly two years, I instilled in me a love for the Japanese aesthetic rooted in simplicity, use of space, and nature, that blends functionality with beauty. I am drawn to Japan’s architecture, garden design, pottery artisanship, and the art of flower arranging. Observing a display of traditional Japanese flower arrangements, wandering through serene Japanese gardens, or admiring exquisite Japanese pottery, brings me a profound sense of peace. I also love Japanese paper, made from plant fibers, which give it a distinctive texture and appearance.

Similar to Japanese art, African art blends functionality with 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.

I hope my work can symbolize the potential for creating connections across difference our differences, ultimately fostering serenity and peace in the world.