Type of Submission
Podium Presentation
Keywords
Art, Nostalgia, Memories, Preservation, Sculpture, Printmaking
Proposal
My creative work is grounded in the preservation of memories that are a part of my personal history and identity. I was raised by artists and storytellers that continually pushed and encouraged me to be creative and to feel sentimental. Having a stronger memory of my childhood than most people do, I have found that my memories are often what I seem to cherish most. In my creative practice, the act of preserving my past is exercised through the use of old family heirlooms and artifacts, or holding onto specific moments by freezing them in a two dimensional plane. Many of my concepts are formed in light of my awareness of the ways my memories and childhood continue to reconstruct and adapt my life experiences today.
I have explored these ideas through several three-dimensional processes. I will often alter the appearance of found objects or recreate a familiar form using an unconventional material or process, invoking a sense of nostalgia while also challenging the viewer to reconsider the object in a new way. Two-dimensional works push me to do more than recreate an image that already exists. The image needs to be a strong enough vessel to carry its concept without spoon feeding the audience an image that invites no further consideration. These pieces often draw on very specific moments in time. I like taking a conversations and package it neatly into one image that memorializes a time I can later reflected on. Our past is what forms us. So whether we are proud of it or we look at it through a lens of mourning, there is always a way to benefit from processing it further.
My intention in this presentation is to break down my works and tell the stories that inspired them. I find that my biggest strength as an artist lies in the narratives of the works that often go untold. My desire is to honor my family, my friends, and my home while continually noting the traces of God’s unending grace through every season.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Publication Date
2024
Recollections: Art's Role in Preserving Memories
My creative work is grounded in the preservation of memories that are a part of my personal history and identity. I was raised by artists and storytellers that continually pushed and encouraged me to be creative and to feel sentimental. Having a stronger memory of my childhood than most people do, I have found that my memories are often what I seem to cherish most. In my creative practice, the act of preserving my past is exercised through the use of old family heirlooms and artifacts, or holding onto specific moments by freezing them in a two dimensional plane. Many of my concepts are formed in light of my awareness of the ways my memories and childhood continue to reconstruct and adapt my life experiences today.
I have explored these ideas through several three-dimensional processes. I will often alter the appearance of found objects or recreate a familiar form using an unconventional material or process, invoking a sense of nostalgia while also challenging the viewer to reconsider the object in a new way. Two-dimensional works push me to do more than recreate an image that already exists. The image needs to be a strong enough vessel to carry its concept without spoon feeding the audience an image that invites no further consideration. These pieces often draw on very specific moments in time. I like taking a conversations and package it neatly into one image that memorializes a time I can later reflected on. Our past is what forms us. So whether we are proud of it or we look at it through a lens of mourning, there is always a way to benefit from processing it further.
My intention in this presentation is to break down my works and tell the stories that inspired them. I find that my biggest strength as an artist lies in the narratives of the works that often go untold. My desire is to honor my family, my friends, and my home while continually noting the traces of God’s unending grace through every season.
