Artist Statement 

There are few words as feared in the gardener’s vocabulary as “First Frost”. A signal that the wheel will continue turn as we crest one hill and begin our decline into dormancy. All is not lost, however, at the bottom of this hill lies the cherished “Last Frost” and the promise of new growth. This waxing and waning of the seasons feel new to me coming from the desert that holds frost at bay. My experience with the environment and seasons in the Midwest is childlike. I find myself yearning to bottle the smell of blooming Bee Balm to share with those I meet.  Every Crocus bloom in April is a miracle, and every spent Coneflower in October is a tragedy.  
 
As an artist, my work speaks to these cycles and their proliferation beyond the botanical world. There are words that people carry with them through the seasons of their lives. These words are sometimes private and sometimes heavy. They are the words said in anger, said out of love, said during pillow talk and there are words that were never said at all.  Some words begin heavy and become lighter as you crest more hills in your life. As I have journeyed throughout my life I have felt the gaze of nature upon me, as if they can read the words I carry. In this there is no judgement, no pity, no measurement, only the holding of the moment and space. My work is a journal as I assess what I choose to carry with me, and what I leave at the base of each hill for all the plants to see.  
 
The materiality of my work is seated firmly on the line of botanical interest and personal reflection. My texts are pulled from my own botany notes, conversations with lost lovers and mantras pulled from the ether of my memories.  I work almost exclusively in biodegradable and compostable materials that I either grow myself or sustainably forage for. This is both an ethical decision and a gesture of gratitude to nature for its continued support of my growth.