I do my work to shed light on the connection between life and its environment, and the balance and imbalance that exists across this relationship. I explore this connection through depictions of sea creatures and their habitats. For example, I have used invasive ocean species to represent how stressors can promote imbalance, given how they quickly consume their ecosystem. Not only does this help to depict a cause-and-effect relationship, but it also calls attention to the dangers the natural world faces. 

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I wanted to tie the ideas further into the materials, which is where the concept of unraveling comes from. The unraveling of the yarn not only shows the destruction, but the interconnectedness between the sea life and the ecosystem, and how closely the state of one is tied to the other.  Additionally, I feel that the repetitive stitches, as well as the handmade quality, serve to represent the patterned quality of nature on a scientific level, in combination with the individuality and growth of life. I also use color to help communicate my meaning. In one of my recent projects, The Ocean Floor, I painted one octopus a blue gradient reminiscent of the ocean, and the other is the same sandy color as the rock it sits on to help demonstrate the ideas of balance. In my invasive species projects, I used neon colors to help communicate how the species are alien within their environment. 

 

Another aspect of my process that is consistent throughout my work is paper-mache and cardboard. In my works that focused on the relationship between creatures and their environment, I used paper mache to make rock-like bases to present the scenes on.  First, I create the shape using cardboard, and then apply a sand and glue mixture to create the correct texture. As I got further into the sculptural side of this medium,  I wanted to make rock bases more interesting and tie them further into the subject matter. Paper-mache has become an integral part of each piece rather than merely something to place sculptures on. Recently, I have been using on cardboard as my primary medium as well, focusing on creating fluid forms.