I draw my inspiration from the world around me, past and present. I believe the past effects the present and the present repeats the past and it is important for America to remember the past. I have experienced firsthand how this country excludes. We, the people, have built, fought and died for this country and yet it still tries to deny us our fundamental right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I refer to my woodwork as “wood collage". Wood allows me to layer images to create depth and texture that I could not achieve with pencil and paper. I am able to create shadows and provide the viewer with different vantage points and the opportunity to experience my work from a different perspective. I returned to the figure in my “wood collage” and abandoned the “closed eyes” previously found in my watercolor and colored pencil drawings. The chains are a reminder of our past and our ancestors. It represents the unspoken truth about slavery and its impact on America. The target symbolizes the racial bias that we endure. I believe we cannot move forward as a united country until be acknowledge the past.