Salt in Our Bones

In my studio I lead a rich fantasy life. I am excited and enchanted by the interplay of color, pattern, and texture in a variety of mediums — but always involving paper, most often, paper I’ve handmade. I look to the natural world for inspiration in my work. Approaching the work as a scientist or naturalist might, I observe, hypothesize, and run experiments. Then I interpret and process my findings. I consider creative play and intuitive investigation into materials hallmarks of my practice. When I watch documentaries about sea life, or read about the discoveries of marine scientists, I feel a stab of longing. I want to be there; I want to see and touch everything. To a doubly-landlocked person like myself, the ocean is a fantasy. The symbiotic nature of the world is a theme I return to in my work. A fantasy in which glowing, floating, magical beings exist. Where organisms (such as siphonophores) come together to form an entity that works as one to hunt, kill, and eat other fascinating creatures. The fantasticality of science in general is an endless well of possibility from which I draw inspiration. Advisor: Francisco Sout