Artist’s Statement

My work is about taking time to honor and recognize people, things, and experiences that, at times, go unnoticed. 

In Floating and Other Moments of Buoyancy, I celebrate a senior population-- in this country, one that is often overlooked or marginalized rather than valued. In a youth-driven culture, seniors can feel invisible. As technology advances, there is potential for them to feel left behind. These tableaus offer interpretations of the challenges and pleasures of aging through the lens of game-play and communal activities. 

Through observation, participation (interacting with seniors at local senior centers and assisted living facilities), and drawing, I attempt to synthesize and re-imagine the ways in which play enriches, facilitates and strengthens our understanding of ourselves and our connections with each other. 

I draw parallels from a time in the Edo-period of Japanese history, in which Ukiyo or “the Floating World:” a culture of pleasure-seeking and leisure activity, developed in response to a changing economic and social climate. In Floating..., resilient elders remain active through engaging in social activities, for the purposes of entertainment and maintaining valuable connections. Also inspired by the opulent detail of the ukiyo-e art of the same period, the intricate patterning of each garment depicted is culled from my grandmother’s wardrobe.

Thanks, Nana. I put them all back where they belong.