Identity 2015
Photographic images are often used as a jumping off point for artists. In this series of paintings, a new body of work for me, the photographic image becomes much more than a reference. I have a direct genetic and emotional connectivity to the subject in the reference image as well as, in most cases, the photographer.
There are also the circumstances surrounding the image; the timing, the location, the aspects of my personal memory relative to the context in which the image was recorded.
My own story and work is shaped by the loss of my mother at a young age. The images reveal tangible evidence that my mother was at one time present. Some create the illusion of perfection which, of course, does not exist. Others give the viewer hints of brokenness.
I explore the voids; the catch-22 of narrative imagery, that leave one seeking additional information, much like the unfinished conversations that we would like to complete with loved ones no longer with us. The images illustrate shared experiences, a family photo before church, children beneath a Christmas tree, a family sharing a meal, allowing the viewer to imagine a connection to their own stories.