SOLO: Lost & Found Touchstone Gallery Washington, DC
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NOVEMBER 1 - DECEMBER 3, 2023
Opening Reception: November 4th 4-7PM
Meet the Artist: November 25th 6-8PM (City Center Tree Lighting)
Touchstone Gallery, 901 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC
ARTIST STATEMENT:
I paint from fragments of my memory: the space between two people, a smooth sea, the sound of the wind, reflections of light, the fall of a shadow, and the quiet moments that often go unnoticed. These are the facets of nature that are impermanent, that are lost as time passes. The concept of "lost and found" in my work is an exploration of the ephemeral and the enduring.
I use collage in my work to add complication to the abstraction of broad-brush strokes and scrawled line that present the foreground, middle ground, and background of each piece. This collage is often found materials—discarded maps, aged book pages, old sketches from my sketchbooks and more. In this body of work, a set of used green-striped glassine bags has found its way into almost every piece. I choose items that are sometimes overlooked but hold a value to me that I can’t always name. Through the subsequent application of layers of color, texture, and brushwork, I embrace chance by allowing these elements to interact. It's in these layers that the "found" elements emerge; a journey, where the creative process guides the work, revealing unexpected compositions and connections.
The idea of dislocation enters my work as I intentionally disrupt the traditional landscape. I reconfigure elements, which challenges the viewer to question their perception of the space. I aim to evoke a sense of mixed location—feeling both familiar and alienated in the world. This dissonance serves as a metaphor for the dislocation many of us feel in an era of rapid change and redefinition.
In the balance between “lost and found,” my paintings reflect the inherent impermanence of the world. Seasons change, landscapes evolve, and moments pass, leaving behind memories and traces of what was. Ephemerality is a central theme in my work; a reminder that the beauty we encounter in the world is omnipresent, ever-changing, and fleeting all at the same time. Yet, amidst the impermanence and change, there is a profound sense of continuity and resilience in nature.