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I am intrigued by the relationship of how our memories are formed and how they influence our daily lives. Equally impactful is the effect that music has on me and the correlation with our memories, such as the effect that it had on me during my time spent in Okinawa, Japan with my family. My work is a reflection of personality, memories, and musical interests indirectly seen as a narrative. Time spent in Japan influences my forms as well as the colors that are prominent within my pieces.

This work depicts patterns inspired by the 1980’s. An infatuation with 1980’s pop culture stems from my parent’s musical interests and artist’s trademarks such as Michael Jackson’s stage presence, Journey’s vocals and guitar solos, Elton John’s colorful costumes, and Queen’s theatrical concert performances. Neon colors, movies, and graphic design elements have become a backdrop throughout this process, and motivate the names of my pieces, each pattern and form reflecting that individual song or band that sparks a memory within me.

My textures and patterns are achieved with water abrasion, carving, slip trailing, as well as other methods of decoration. My forms mimic the Japanese aesthetic, but do so in a way that the delineations in the forms compliment the patterns that the piece is decorated with. Techniques such as these help me alter my forms and add to creating a sense of nostalgia. Acting as vehicles that are meant to transport my audience to memories and reflections of the past as they do for me. The viewer becomes culturally aware and are given the opportunity to create their own interpretations.

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