ARTWORK DESCRIPTION
July 2011. 3:30 am. My new paper route job. My first stop was the airport, a 6 mile windy road in the middle of nowhere. I hit a deer, totaling my first car, a 2002 PT Cruiser. I called everyone I thought of hoping for a rescue but nobody answered. My last resort was my dad who lived only a few miles away. Even though we had been estranged for a year, “Surely he will come help me,” I thought. I was wrong. Once he picked up the phone and I explained “I’m sorry to bother you but I just need to borrow your car, please I can’t lose this job.” He started lecturing me claiming “If you hadn't been so disobedient towards me this wouldn’t have happened. God is punishing you for your rebellion” I cut him off “you told me you’d always love me no matter what. This doesn’t feel like love.” I hung up. That was the last straw. We will never be reconciled. I went no contact.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I've long aspired to master a singular craft, with paint mural making serving as my primary mediums. Venturing into a new artistic era, I've felt a feminist urge to acquaint myself with power tools. Rejecting the patriarchal notion that women must rely on men for traditional masculine creativity, I've been resourceful, collecting scrap materials from construction sites to keep costs at a minimum.
Contrary to using creativity as therapy, a notion that contradicts my upbringing in the Bible Belt and subsequent escape from a cult, I've witnessed a divide between the church and those harmed by its doctrines. In my latest work, titled 'The Disagreeable Giver,' I dive deep into the repercussions of fundamentalism, legalism, and narcissistic abuse on my life. Employing imagery from childhood, 90s nostalgia, biblical and religious symbols, this collection serves as a cathartic expression of the impact of spiritual abuse, narrating my journey of healing and self-discovery.
As a recovering people-pleaser, indoctrinated by fundamentalism, I grapple with the challenge of uncovering my identity while navigating the fear of judgment. My recent creations encapsulate this struggle. While my subjects span a broad spectrum, my artistic style remains distinct, drawing inspiration from Pop-art and contemporary realism. I aim to inspire viewers with my work, encouraging them to seek deeper meanings just as I discover profound truths within myself.
