Artist Statement
|
Family BondsWe have moment memory and story-telling memory. For family love and formation of ourselves, I have focused on moment memory and the role it plays in creating bonds among us. Science shows that we feel happier after we have looked at photos depicting a special moment we have shared with family and friends. We also re-remember the events that give us stronger feelings about the event and people involved. Hence, I depict bond-forming moments as “simplified photos” using line, limited color and limited or no background. I also, do this because humans recall a total of 4 objects per image that we see. Hence, my simplified photograph strategy helps the viewer remember and learn of an activity that can create connections between one another. Further, it allows the viewer to step into the image and enables the scene to become their experience. Furthermore, the simplification eliminates the distractions of the aesthetics of the person or people depicted in the scenes. I use this method for family love to help provide new moment ideas to take home and share with one’s family to help build the “bonds that bind” and keep families strong and happy. However, our emotions have been scientifically shown to be contagious. Hence, the whole family mood is affected by those in the group. So one moment can lead to another and another that builds the group up.
I use hearts as a strong visual symbol to indicate that the activity observed is a bonding event. Another significant element emphasized is displayed affection. Schematically, I show this with red cheeks on the people. I also demonstrate the strong bond and lasting effects that a mother develops through breastfeeding by putting a swirl in their hearts; this is another way I offer strength to those who want to build strong, loving ties with their children. I now have a new element to introduced, the Bow-Tie. Together with my concept of "It's A Bow-Tie Day" I now demonstrate the role of the father, guardian, or another male relative in the lives of children. It's A Bow-tie DayThe "It's A Bow-Tie Day" series is one that I am excited in presenting as I believe it helps provide a means for depicting how dads and other significant males involved in caring for children can show their love and support for them through the use of a bow-tie. It can help fathers and others feel more involved than before. It evokes moment memories for those involved. Hence, this series starts out with revealing what a Bow-Tie Day is with a set of images of a dad showing his support for his daughter at her ballet audition and a dad's support for his son at the son's soccer game. Each is a different take on what can happen with "It's A Bow-Tie Day". Keep a look out for more It's a Bow-Tie Day images to come as I learn from dads and others about their Bow-Tie Day moments and memories.
Romantic BondsMoment memory, of course, is an obvious component of romance. However, that is of the individual when they speak of “the moment” that they met that special person. But couples have a collective story that they build together while courting, our story telling memory is another focus that I bring to this show. When a couple talks about how they fell in love, every couple will tell you about it as a story, and they will do so eagerly. Couples will remember different aspects of a scene and each builds the story with their memory of it. Therefore, for depiction of finding our true love and some important elements in that quest, I consider the challenge that our memories of our time together are often tied to the environment and how glorious and wonderful it all seems when we are with our true love.
|
Hence, unlike my work depicting family relationships and activities where I am asking the viewer to focus on the event, I include more of the environment in the scene and present it as a story. Can you tell what elements each remembered and why it is in their love story? In my art exhibits, I hang part of the show in the order of a love story with family events following after, which then actually carries on the love story into the family story. Sometimes the romance of Fall has also been shown in a family story scene with the environment included. Behind The ScenesWhile couples are eager to tell their stories, there are other stories not told as in these stories the author is silently working "behind the scenes" to make a special moment happen. Thus, knowing that family heart-bonding moments and activities that I show don't just happen by magic, I now present the stories of those who put in the time to make a special moment happen. Thanksgiving is a great time to think about this aspect and to give thanks and appreciation for all the work, and thoughtfulness others do to show their love. Hence, I depict two untraditional stories of Thanksgiving. One is a real family event another is a reflection on the knowledge of the "three sisters" that the Indians taught the Pilgrims. In the case of the Indians, their teaching, and their ways have often been quietly behind the scenes. This series is in its infancy but has many stories that I am eager to share. So keep a look at for more of these stories at other shows and in my newsletter.
Inspired To Make You SmileHopefully, my artwork will invite and bring you, the viewer, in with me on my investigations. Additionally, I wish to stimulate the viewer into accessing one’s own “heart portrait” and maybe learn of ways to bring more meaning or fulfillment into their life and heart and to put positive feelings in place of the negative ones that our media culture puts out on a daily basis. I want to build up and support our efforts at building emotionally strong and happy ties with one another.
I enjoy making people smile and I love seeing the happiness they feel when they share a story of theirs with me. I also like to have a humorous note with my art either visually or with a whimsical title which is in an effort to introduce a moment of the giggles that brightens one’s day. Hence, I also create whimsical hearts filled with images of things we say as love notes to our sweeties. Some sayings are depicted in other forms of watercolor images as well. Finally, I also provide images of flowers both in watercolor and photography to emphasize how important the simple act of giving flowers is to help us to connect with each other and that somehow we need the connection to nature to complete the act. I hope I am providing an experience that adds meaning to your heart at the moment you view the images in the web and at my exhibits. And when my art is displayed in one’s home it works to reproduce the happiness that the image represents and helps to keep positive feelings circulating on a daily basis making our homes the haven we all long for with our loved ones. 
|
|
|
