Artist Statement

To make art is to create forms that communicate special meanings. These messages reflect beliefs and principles that operate on personal, social, and historical levels. For me my core beliefs with regard to my creative output, is to reaffirm the central role of creative, critical and  visionary thinking, to a democratic life and society. Democracy as a way of life both personal and social, affirms the value of individual dreams while at the same time challenging people to address social justice by thinking about community and the common good.

It is completely opposed to the rampant individualism that divides us along political fault lines and promotes apathy and indifference towards the common good. It also opposes fundamentalist thinking that reduces diverse communities to stereotypes that apply simplistic logic to complicated issues. Democratic life and its art strives to bridge communities and individuals through meaningful experiences that deepen thinking about life as a process we can participate fully in as cultural workers.

My experiences in education as a life-long student and emerging mentor/teacher add a pedagogical element to my efforts. Artwork like a good class should create the space for people to reflect on their ideologies and address issues that either need to be challenged or affirmed according to core beliefs that direct the experience.

Paintings & Drawings  

Photography