Artist Statement

My art practice is one that attempts to unfold and discuss, not only my own questions and concerns surrounding the past and present state of social and political environments, but also topics that I believe impact the average person.

As a queer artist, my work can be fairly autobiographical, however my goal is to keep the work accessible to the viewer, so that they may bring their own history into their interpretation. Like so many, it often feels as if I have been an outsider looking through a window into a world that can be hard to relate to. With my work, I am able to sort through the confusion of how to negotiate this life. It is the rawness and vulnerability of my work that has had the greatest impact on the viewer. The honesty of what I make creates a safe space in which discussions and revelations can be had. The audience constantly surprises me with their insights and various interpretations, all of which I consider valid. It is these interactions and conversations which I believe finishes the piece.

Biography

Growing up in a small community on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, I began creating assemblages as a way to express myself, not only as "art for art's sake", but also as a form of self-therapy. Fortunately, I was welcomed into the local art community, whose encouragement motivated me to continue to produce and show my work, as well as to get involved in community events such as serving on the Board for the South Shore Festival of the Arts, and organizing art and craft shows.

At the age of eighteen, I opened my first business, ‘Mum n Sun Garden Gallery’. I offered services in landscaping and floral design, while offering goods ranging from bedding plants, to art, craft, antiques and collectibles. After running the business for five years, I closed the store and moved to Lower Sackville. For two years, I worked in various group homes for developmentally challenged adults. Although this was an extremely rewarding experience, the visual arts was where I knew I belonged. With much encouragement from friends and family, I applied to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. After five years of bouncing around between craft and fine art, I graduated with a BFA Interdisciplinary, with my focus being in sculpture.

After graduating in 2005, I began working at Argyle Fine Art in Halifax, N.S. and became the Assistant Director. After five years, it was time to move on. On Oct. 22, 2010, I opened Swoon - Fine Art and Antiques on Hammonds Plains Road, just outside Halifax NS. Although a life changing moment in time, in 2015, I closed Swoon's brick and mortar location, becoming an online and pop-up gallery. Today I currently curate and assist with local art shows, but am mostly focused on my own art practice.