STATEMENT

In the jungle, as in our daily lives, everything is in perpetual transition. As an immigrant artist, I am captivated by the cyclical nature of existence – the biogenic scum forming and dissipating, the metamorphosis of green leaves into hues of purple, the transformation of mud into a habitat for termites and a haven for cicadas. I find myself dwelling in the in-between states, transfixed by the processes that mirror the fleetingness of life. Nature is a sanctuary, a muse, and media in my work.

My abiding love of details, textures, and lush ecosystems materializes in imagery of dense jungles with their profusion of leaves, various creatures and their watchful eyes, the overlapping spaces and intimacies of flora and fauna. While creating my mixed media drawings and fiber artworks, I feel a deep sense of presence, connection, stillness, a meditative state - a feeling of home. My creative act has evolved into an intuitive process which turns up the volume on my sensitivity towards the natural world. Soils, fibers, texture, aromas, paper, barks, and a rich tapestry of earth derived ochres form the building blocks of my artistry.  

My current body of work is a conscious recognition of the depth of this connection, a profound sense of belonging, healing and transitions. In the work Fool’s Gold I highlight the fragility of our intertwined relationship to nature, specifically when we look at it purely as a resource for capitalistic gain. As much as the eyes bear witness to the destruction, they also seek to connect with us.

As Rene Magritte said, “Everything we see hides another thing, we always want to see what is hidden by what we see.” My work is an invitation to slow down and see what is hidden. 

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Guardians of the Jungle is a multi-pronged and ongoing project that incorporates field work, research, drawing, painting, teaching, and community engagement to raise awareness and funding for the jungle’s protection. Driven by a passion for protecting what is precious and committed to drawing as a way to look and learn, I bring audiences into contact with the Peruvian Amazon and Junglekeepers (a nonprofit organization on the ground, who work hard to safeguard the jungle) through various modes of creative engagement. The project will eventually result in a series of exhibitions, publications, conversations, and fundraisers for jungle preservation. 

The Peruvian Amazon is a complex ecosystem with the highest biodiversity per capita in the world, but it is largely unstudied and not protected. Loggers, poachers, and gold miners are a threat to this place which is habitat to countless animals, plant species and Indigenous people. It takes approximately 2 hours to cut down a 500-year-old ironwood tree, which is home to over 50 species. Even if we replant the forest, it will be too late. To protect what is left of this complex biosystem requires funding and policy change. All of this begins by raising awareness and helping people to see and care about our interconnectedness. As a mixed media artist, book illustrator, and drawing teacher, I do this through storytelling, teaching, and especially, drawing.

In August 2022 & July 2023, I conducted an in-depth field research while on expedition in Peru’s Las Piedras River where images, sketches, samples, impressions, and stories were collected. Supporters of this project have helped me raise funds for this trip for which I am extremely grateful!

This series of drawings & paintings acknowledges the forces that threaten the jungle — mining, logging, and the development of other industries — as well as focus on the specific flora and fauna of the jungle. My abiding love of details, textures, and lush ecosystems tends to materialize in imagery of dense jungles with their profusion of leaves, various creatures and their watchful eyes, the overlapping spaces and intimacies of flora and fauna. 

For instance, in a drawing called Shiny Object (see above) an exquisite, brightly colored macaw feather is depicted against a fading jungle scene. The Peruvian Amazon is disappearing and full of ghosts; this graphite drawing is therefore an elegy for all that is lost in pursuit of a shiny object. In Fool’s Gold (see above), a tree trunk with myriad eyes peer out from within the texture of the tree. The title references gold miners who are actively cutting, burning, and polluting the Amazon rainforest, putting mercury in the soil in order to extract gold. The imagery communicates the living creatures of the jungle who bear witnesses to our destruction of their homes. Though the message is strong, these drawings communicate quietly through poetry, allusion, and masterful technique. 

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

Private donations made by caring individuals. Naming a few: Julia and Joe Todd, Janet and Andy Lubetkin, Karen Lewis, Kelly Dylla, Vivian and Tom Doorn, Kim Graves, Earl Valentine DeWald, Mandy Wright and Cheryl Chudyk.

Donations were also made through Kirkland Arts Center Gala in 2022.

Also sponsored in 2024 by: