Artist Statement
Through the process of experimental collaboration this work explores the maternal connections I have with my daughters as we learn to navigate and unite our imaginations through the act of play, art making, and conversation. Striving to capture the innocence of childhood these figurative paintings map defining moments while confronting some of the intensity experienced in our daily lives. Surrealism encapsulates the creation of imagined worlds while expressive shared mark making embodies the energy of children immersed in play.
As I considered the individual development and autonomy of my daughters, I had to learn to balance their ideas and mark makings with my own. This act contradicts the need for creative control as an artist. However, it mimics learning to strike balance in my own life and letting go of the logistics of motherhood. Empowered by Play depicts my daughters as having agency as we share the space in our home during the height of pandemic restrictions. As we explore our imaginations, the act of play and art making becomes an empowering tool for fostering connections, building inner resilience, and adapting to outside circumstances.
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