I grew up in tiny, tree- and water-laden Deep River, Connecticut. I spent so much time outside when I was young, always going on family hikes and canoe trips, figuring out animal tracks, and looking up birds in reference books. From a young age, I was taught to love the earth and behave responsibly toward it, and as a result, resourcefulness, repurposement, and sustainability are now an integral part of my daily life.
I have spent a great deal of time researching ways in which to live and make art in the greenest ways possible. Each month in 2009, I took a new step toward a more sustainable lifestyle. For example, in April I picked up litter, in May I did not create any trash, and in August I ate only locally produced foods. I learned how to compost, how to best recycle everything, and where to find local tofu. In the last few months, I have concentrated more on how to apply these concepts to my artwork. My passion for “being green” has manifested itself in the materials I use—old t-shirts, scraps of cardboard, and discarded items find their way into my artwork. Fabric, wallpaper, furniture, and household objects have so much charm and allure, and I like to collect forgotten, unwanted domestic novelties and repurpose them through the use of printmaking, photography, and collage.
I applied my enthusiasm for repurposing to my most recent projects, which are driven by issues surrounding what is expected of young women. I focus on domesticity, fertility, and what I, as a young woman, am “supposed to do” with my life. Fertility and sustainability have a strong fundamental connection, and I fear we are headed toward a barren earth. It is my hope that my work will not only be relevant on a personal level, but on a global level as well.
