Artist Statement

Many years ago I worked as an artist in residence for several New York City public schools. This experience gave me an in-depth and intimate view of the educational system in NYC. I had the privilege of working with the students and educators who attended these schools. The institutional quality of the spaces seemed in sharp contrast to the humanity that filled the halls and classrooms daily. When I was there, I photographed the schools and used the images as reference materials.

Several years ago I began to conceive this series of box constructions based on these images. I took the photographs when the halls were empty and reveal an abstraction through various perspectives, colors, light and textures. Natural light merges with florescent light bouncing off waxed linoleum floors and ceramic tiled walls. The abstract qualities of these architectural spaces, though devoid of people, possess the idea of possibility and trigger memories of action, drama, trauma, and secrets of our youth.

Two years ago the pandemic hit and the idea of attending school took on a different meaning. Remote learning was rapidly introduced and integrated into the educational system. Students had the choice of hybrid, remote, or in person learning. The equation shifted every time there was a Covid case in a classroom. This uncertainty created anxiety for families. The sculptures in this series capture that sense of loss and abandonment.

When the vaccine became available, schools became vaccination locations. I photographed the schools I went to when I received both doses of the vaccine. These photographs are also used in the new work.

Tragically, schools have been places where acts of gun violence are prevalent. These institutional walls that are vessels for human activity, can be inhabited by unexpectedly positive actions as well as the horrifically unthinkable.

In addition to my intricately constructed box sculptures, I have included photographic light boxes. The images show the three-dimensional sketches I build during my design process. These models are built with foam core, drawn on with sharpie and pencil, and assembled with masking tape. They are temporary and unfinished. The models capture a quality of impermanence that is not present in the sculptures. These photographs reveal the process as art.