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"Mary," my God says / "Yes," says my Mary
Medium: Acrylic, grapite, oil stick, Simplistic in nature; not by immaturity. There is a certain amount of eloquence that exudes out of the pores of the simple. Words are old friends that appear into eternity. Without them I would cease to exist. However indirect, my "Marys" are based on my meditations with the prayers of the Rosary. I live my work, so it is always a reflection of the state of my heart, mind, and soul. With God's breath, I breathe. With His divine guidance, I answer His will in my work and also ask God my questions and visually explain my struggles of the day-to-day. I pursued these drawings through my connection to the Rosary and its prayers given us by the Virgin Mary. Since being presented with my first rosary in 2001, I have a strong relationship and often seek answers by praying the rosary. So it is with these drawings. At no better time for the culmination of this body of work to be presented than during advent. I started with "Mary" my God says; the beginning of Mary not only listening but hearing Gods call to her. This inherently includes in it her ears already listening for God's will. You feel her small voice answer back eventually. "Yes" to God. Can I in my daily life begin to listen for God? And, as I become willing to listen for His will in my life, will I be able to say "yes." Mary, like us strengthened her relationship by simply saying "yes." I was born and raised in Texas. I received my BFA from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas where I received a superior award in fine arts and also was honored to serve as a teaching assistant as an undergraduate. I majored in two disciplines: sculpture and printmaking. While in college I studied drawing abroad at University College, Oxford, England. I also studied summers at the Fort Burguin Research Center in Taos, New Mexico. I work almost exclusively on paper because the simultaneous fragility and strength in a piece of paper reflects aspects of my own life. I had the honor to mentor and teach in the Recognition for Artists Program (RAP) from 1996 to 2000. I worked with individuals that live with a psychiatric illness, and we used art as a means to learn to balance life and foster a life in art for those wanting to pursue an artistic career. Not only did we teach and create but we showed and sold artwork throughout the Dallas Metropolitan area. In 2001 I moved to Idaho and found the community here laid back and accepting. Locally my work is held in two permanent collections. I am currently working toward my goals in advocacy and art. My work has been exhibited and honored throughout the United States including Texas, New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska. Currently I am the Artist in Residence at Grace Episcopal Church, Nampa, Idaho. |
