What is a home? What does home mean? When does a place become home? Is home a place? A person? The concept of home has often related to the dwelling space of a family with domestic duties and traditional dynamics. However, the contemporary culture is currently challenging the conventional concepts that have been tied to the connotation of home. The increasing housing crisis in cities, rates of homelessness, foster care system and steady incline of the cost of living is impacting our relationship to having a permanent place to reside. The exploration of the work delves into the idea and connection to home as how they relate to trauma around home, experiences moving, and redefining what home means.

The work focuses on the exploration of reclaimed materials to build these homes but these metal and wooden structures are only the frame work, it requires an engagement with the subject to provide the key elements that make this a home. Thus examining the materialistic relation to make a place home as well as the emotional components to a seemingly empty space. The stilted structures implore the viewer to reflect on their own perceptions, perspectives, and relation to the subject.

The phrase “Memento Vivere” is Latin for “remember to live” but to live implies that you “remember you must die” (Memento Mori). The books in this series, Memento Vivere, relate this underlying concept and deal with subjects pertaining to euphoria and vitality but also grief, violation, and assault.

After the passing of a friend in the spring, the book which appears last in the series, Memento Mori, was created first on the inside of a decaying book. Dealing with the idea of morality, within the book lays a decomposing body showing an exposed ribcage, severed limbs, broken bones to convey the grief felt. The ground surrounding the grave displays the variation of color but also the reclaiming of the soil to allow flower growth a metaphor for the healing process.

The second book, Memento Pugnare, means “remember to fight” which was created following a sexual assault. Within the book, lies a figure bound by rope with a bag covering their face and clothes ripped off. The violent scene can invoke feelings of fear, aggression, and pain but this are part of the experience of living and shape our existence.

The final book, Memento Vivere, was made as the beginning and end of stage of life. The book includes a figure laying down on a picnic blanket with a basket, book, and apple. This setting creates an atmosphere of calmness and peace, there is an appreciation for what is present in the moment despite what the future might hold.

(papermache & cardboard)

25ft (Length) x 15ft (Wide)

The Mountain

We all have our own uphill battle to face, whether physical, emotional , or spiritual. We just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other until we reach the top of the Mountain.

(egg carton papermache, chicken wire, & wood structure)

The Road

Each of us has our road to take, filled with trials and tribulations; some are more difficult than other. Directions to the destination aren't always clear but we often know when we have veered from the path.

(gravel)

The Village

It truly takes a village to raise a child or create a large-scale project. Within this archetype, there is a sense of community & connection. But if one deviates from societal norms it becomes one of isolation.

(cardboard)

The River

A place where worry and fear can be washed away or run rampt like rough rapids. The River can represent solitude and peace if we choose not to fight the current. We must choose to go with the flow.

(brokenn blue glass & fabric)

The Voyage

It is never smooth sailing in life, rough waves and uncertain waters threaten stability. But if one can weather the worst of the storms there are brighter days ahead for all who choose to voyage.

(vintage handbuilt boat)

The Forest

The flora and fauna of the Forest offer peace and comfort away from busy city life. This contrast can quickly shift when the sun begins to set, we may feel the instinctual fear for our safety. We often must ask ourselves whether we are prepared to endure the dark forest or stay in our comfort.

(wire armature, papermache, dirt)

The Tower

In tarot the Tower is a card of transformation, it can be an unexpected or big change. Whether upright or reversed it’s an inevitable change that’s taking place. painless or not, the Tower makes us more resilient, brings enlightenment, and aligns us to our path.

(ceramic with stain)

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

The harbingers of the end times... One for Conquest, a self-righteous leader seeking to assert their dominance. Followed by War, fueled by a justified anger and hatred for their cause. Another of Famine, driven by scarcity and inflation this horseman is driven by hunger. The final one, Death, offers surrender from the world's woes and suffering.

(wire, aluminum, & papermache)

Sun & Moon

More about these in the future...this is not their story.

(papermache & light)

Harper's Weekly, A Journal of Civilization

A politicial magazine from 1860's that chronicles the Civil War from the Union's perspective. This shows the archtypes and their echoes through time.

The Documentation of Life series began as the desire to collect various flora and fauna from the surrounding environment. Many of these items can be traced back the artist’s childhood of collecting small trinkets, broken fragments, and natural materials. These trays represent an organized way to convey an experience of life with its history being considered in the process. The items within the trays can invoke a sense of nostalgia within the viewer to remind them of a place or period of time that feels reminiscent.

Similarly, Life of the Machine stemmed from the collection of objects, however, in the form of metal and machine parts. In contrast, these trays of metal show the breakdown and maintenance with sustaining machinery. Each metal shard, bent wire, and miscellaneous part that was found relates to a larger whole that’s been lost. However, in the collection and display of parts the importance is recognized. Through the collection and categorization of these objects a record of their pertinence and relation to the world is documented.

The works Lost Nature, Bone Garden as well as Life & Death are currently on display at Swan Coach House Gallery as part of their annual exhibit “Little Things”. If you’d like to view these in person please visit Swan Coach House Gallery Tues - Sat 10AM - 4PM at 3130 Slaton Dr NW Atlanta, GA 30305.

The book sculptures, Lost Nature, Bone Garden, as well as Life & Death were inspired by the beauty of the world and reverence of the ephemeral nature of life. There exist references to the concept of memento mori, meaning “remember you must die,” through imagery of bones and rotting wood. With the subject of death and decay present in the work it invites one to value the vibrancy and zeal of life. The meticulous work of drawing the letters based on flora and fauna, further emphasize the intricate details that exist in the universe. The series explores our own relationship to the earth and the creatures that inhabit the planet.

     Through my wooden creatures, I explore the intersection of the whimsical and the macabre through the medium of wood carving. Based on my personal ink sketches and drawing inspiration from Tim Burton’s aesthetic, my wooden creatures serve as manifestations of internal struggles and the exorcism of negative energies. Each work is crafted from pine or birch and finished with an ebony stain that deepens the emotional resonance of the sculptures.

     The sculpture, "Onom," embodies the unsettling feeling of being watched by an unknown presence. This piece invites viewers to confront the invisible forces that often lurk in the periphery of our consciousness. The character's form evokes both curiosity and discomfort, challenging the observer to reflect upon the anxiety it may invoke by the peering one eye.

     The "Iche" sculptures draw inspiration from the image of leeches, symbolizing energy vampires that drain vitality and joy. These figures illustrate the darker aspects of human interaction, highlighting the emotional toll of relationships that deplete rather than nourish. These serve as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding one's energy in a world filled with both nurturing and draining influences.

     The act of carving becomes a transformative process, where I channel personal and collective struggles into physical forms. By embodying these themes in wood, I aim to engage viewers in a dialogue about the balance of light and shadow within our lives. Ultimately, the work stands as a testament to the cathartic power of art, inviting us to confront and embrace the intricacies of our emotional landscapes. Each sculpture serves not only as a reflection of personal experience but also as an invitation to explore the narratives that shape our understanding of presence, energy, and existence.

Creating custom made metalwork for places of business and residence, ranging from security doors, railings, garden trellises, gates and more.

CNC plasma cutting, custom railings, and design work is also availbale. See what is offered here.

Please submit an inquiry on the Contact page if you’re interested in custom work for your home or place of business.

Meditative wrapping is the process of repetitively wrapping an object to bring new energy and meaning to an area, object, or place. The exercise is simply a practice in mindfulness and being in tune with your environment to find the balance between mind, body, and soul.

The trees, with deep roots and branches in the sky, play a role in the cycle of life. The air we breathe is the oxygen they produce, the carbon dioxide we exhale is the air they need. There is an invisible connection we share with these living beings. Trees have root systems that allows them to communicate and share nutrients.

Similarly, humans have invisible networks that connect one another. However, we can often overlook the bond that we share with each other. But much like trees and their root systems, during times of crisis, humans beings to share resources and information.

From these moments is when we truly experience the value of our relationship to each other and the importance of maintaining a healthy connection to the earth. In these installations, the trees symbolize human beings and the rope exemplifies the shared bond. This meditative wrapping installation demonstrates how closely knit humanity is to one another and how we coexist with the environment.

In collaboration with photographer, Neta Zuk, the series “Ever-chaning Reverie” ermerged from the recesses of a dream-like vision. Each headpiece compliments the other, with the use of ethically sourced materials including shells, feathers, and bones.

The Ever-Changing Reverie series began as the desire to showcase the beauty of Mother Nature while embodying the female deity and energy. The bones belong to animals that passed from natural causes and have been repurposed to honor their time on this earth. The sea shells are also the remnants of living creatures that are part of this cycle. The headpieces can invoke a sense of reverence and mystification within the viewer to remind them of the ethereal quality of Mother Nature.

Combining moldmaking and casting to create works of art in bronze and stainless steel

The new-media installation “Euphony” was an interactive experience to explore finding peace in chaos. This work emerged after months of political unrest which generated a wave of anxiety and uncertainity in its wake.

Collecting more that 100 speakers from local businesses, organizations, and residents created a sense of unity from the community. Volunteers assisted by connecting hundreds of wires to multi-channel amplifiers to dynamically orbit the sound throughout the space.

Custom software was written to transform camera data and sampled drum beats into generative rhythms produced from the movement within the space, inviting viewers to find how they impact the world around them.