Gardens of Paris

July 1 - August 3, 2014

Waterstone Gallery

The artwork in this exhibition is largely a result of drawings and observations I made in various Paris “gardens” during the month of April 2013. There are references to many actual places in Paris, such as the Luxembourg Gardens and Pere Lachaise Cemetery. However, there are many more subtle references to small details that caught my eye, or that evoked a strong reaction or resonance of some sort. My subjects remain my personal experiences of place, time, or emotional state.

The thread that runs through all of this work and ties it to my previous work is an interest in the idea of “monument” (A structure that is explicitly created to commemorate a person or event). I am always aware of time passing, how to make the most of it, and pondering what will last after I am gone. In Paris, this is particularly true, as there are centuries of history commemorated in all the “gardens” to remind you of the past. I found myself filtering my personal experience in the present through the layers of political, geographical, cultural, epicurean, religious, literary, architectural and art history. Thinking about these complex pieces of the whole add to my understanding of a place, and of course, of myself as well.