message in a bottle

I never met my grandfather, but he was a tailor and I am the only one of later generations to work with my hands and fabrics. By placing fragments of letters he wrote as a young soldier during WW1 “in conversation” with my own fabrics (fabric remnants, threads or fabrics/materials used) on this intimate scale, I hope to capture something about the connection of hands, hearts and DNA.  We all have lineage stories that run through our lives, whether we are awake to it or not. Creating this has also generated the question of whether this is a way to “heal backwards in time?” Mixed media 10" x 10"   $275

I never met my grandfather, but "re-"realized he was a tailor and I am the only one of later generations to work with my hands and fabrics. By placing his letters “in conversation” with my fabrics (fabric remnants, threads or fabrics/materials I've found or used) on this intimate scale, I hope to capture something about the connection of hands, hearts and DNA between us.  We all have lineage stories that run through our lives, whether we are awake to it or not. Creating this has also generated the question of whether this is a way to “heal backwards in time?” Mixed media 11" x 11" framed   $330 framed

The Threads of Connection series was inspired by a trove of letters written by my grandfather to my grandmother when he was a young soldier in WW1. I never met him, but was astonished when I "re-"realized he was a tailor and I am the only one of later generations to work with my hands and fabrics. By placing his letters “in conversation” with my fabrics (fabric remnants, threads or fabrics/materials I've found or used) on these intimate panels, I hope to capture something about the connection of hands, hearts and DNA between us.  It has also generated the question of whether this is a way to “heal backwards in time?” Mixed media 10" x 10"   $275

The Threads of Connection series was inspired by a trove of letters written by my grandfather to my grandmother when he was a young soldier in WW1. I never met him, but was astonished when I "re-"realized he was a tailor and I am the only one of later generations to work with my hands and fabrics. By placing his letters “in conversation” with my fabrics (fabric remnants, threads or fabrics/materials I've found or used) on these intimate panels, I hope to capture something about the connection of hands, hearts and DNA between us.  It has also generated the question of whether this is a way to “heal backwards in time?” Mixed media 10" x 10"   $275

Part of the Message in a Bottle series 24" x 24" Mixed media on wood panel, incorporating acrylic, graphite, and parts of letters written by a young solder to his wife during WWI.  The man was my grandfather (whom I never met). In most letters, he implored my grandmother to write more. This sub-series was inspired by a phrase in one of these letters. The hunger for connection is universal, whether as a soldier in war, during a global pandemic or simply, under the stresses of everyday life. In the work, I try to convey the blue of our longing as well as the sunny joy of possibilities for re-connection and renewal. $850

Part of the Message in a Bottle series 20" x 20" Mixed media on wood panel, incorporating acrylic, graphite, and parts of letters written by a young solder to his wife during WWI.  The man was my grandfather (whom I never met). In most letters, he implored my grandmother to write more to take the blue out of him. The hunger for connection is universal, whether as a soldier in war, during a global pandemic or simply, under the stresses of everyday life. In the work, I try to convey the blue of our longing as well as the sunny joy from the possibilities for re-connection and renewal. $695

Part of the Message in a Bottle series 20" x 20" Mixed media on wood panel, incorporating acrylic, graphite, and parts of letters written by a young solder to his wife during WWI.  The man was my grandfather (whom I never met). In most letters, he implored my grandmother to write more. This sub-series was inspired by a phrase in one of these letters. The hunger for connection is universal, whether as a soldier in war, during a global pandemic or simply, under the stresses of everyday life. In the work, I try to convey the blue of our longing as well as the sunny joy of possibilities for re-connection and renewal.   $695

This 6" x 6" painting may be tiny but it has a large presence. Part of my Message in a Bottle series, which explores the nature of the self and lineage through time and generations.  

This mini Message in a Bottle is small but mighty-- warming up a coffee table, uplifting a work environment or embellishing the perfect wall space with color and spirit. 6" x 6" (1.5" deep) Mixed media on panel