The work I curate draws inspiration from the resilience of the natural world in the aftermath of devastating events and human-induced calamities. Creating installations through collecting and mending materials through the act of stitching serves as a vessel to process the emotional impact of witnessing the places I grew up visiting devastated by wildfires. The anxiety I experienced during my evacuations from human-caused wildfires twice within the past four years profoundly influenced my artistic practice. The fear of losing everything, including my home, my animals, and tangible pieces of my family’s history, haunts my summers. The escalating summer heat and the transcontinental air pollution serve as constant reminders of this anxiety.
Land conservation and the decomposition and revitalization of the natural world have become central components of my research and art practice. I examine the impact of our actions on the natural world that affects the lives of those around us. I engage with a variety of media, including bronze, upholstery foam, found objects, and video installation. Collecting contaminated soil and found objects allows me to examine local ecosystems in Montana and study vegetation and wildlife as they live, grow, and eventually meet their end. I approach video installations as a time-based medium, reminiscent of the physical acts of collecting and orchestrating snapshots of time and place. These human-induced catastrophes changed my perception of control and the response to the aftermath of these events.