A Place of origin

History has always been an interest of mine, whether it was that of other cultures or my own, I have always loved learning about the lives of others. Currently, my work has stemmed from the concept of the forgotten or lost memory and the importance that my heritage and the legacy of my family has upon me. The exploration of this connection between my past and my present has led me to experiment with, not only my knowledge of my own heritage, but also to delve into the history of more traditional methods of expression and creativity. Stemming from this relationship that I have with my family as well as the heirlooms that they have left behind, several themes have become recurrent within my artwork. Through my work I express my interest and investment in this familial relationship including my concern with the various elements related to this connection, such as memory, the loss of memory, the passage of time and the sense of both absence and presence. The presence of these concepts becomes evident through the use of color, form and subject matter, while also becoming apparent through a variety of materials that hold a certain history for me. These objects are placed into an environment that appears to be deteriorating, mainly using colors such as grey and white to create a sense of fading. By using these family objects I am re-evaluating their importance to myself as well as their significance within my family\u27s history. Through my drawings and paintings I attempt to allow the viewer access to the feelings and emotions, as well as the history and legacy that are a part of my everyday life