— Printmaking —
Drew
In the middle of January, a close friend of mine was in a skiing accident that left him paralyzed. I created this print to highlight the brilliance behind one of the most wonderful human beings. The print is set in a night-time/dream-like setting tying in his dreams that he has of skiing as well as the dreams that I've had where I invent robotic pants (similar to Iron Man's suit) so he can walk/ski again.
Rebirth
Society has underlying expectations for how we define beauty; after shaving my head I heard blunt opinions about how my new haircut made me less beautiful. Within the log is an indigo version of myself sleeping amongst dragonflies because female dragonflies fake their own death to get males to stop harassing them. Initially, I had felt strong and brave after shaving my head but words began to make that feeling crumble away which I expressed through a decaying log. The decaying log also acts as a positive symbol, a place for new flora to grow which symbolizes a rebirth. This print is meant to give the feeling of a new start, a rebirth.
This print was created using a reduction process that involves removing layers from a single block to stack each colored layer on top of the previous to create the final image.
Hummy
When i was little, i had a hummingbird friend who i named ‘hummy’ and he used to visit me in the backyard everyday. though it was probably not the same hummingbird, i was convinced that i had a way with animals like i was a disney princess or something. hummingbirds remind me of home. a good friend of mine also feels like home.
the rumor goes that hummingbirds have to slow their heart rate down so much to sleep that they essentially ‘die’ each time they fall asleep. this good friend that i mentioned sleeps so soundly that when he lays down, he is dead asleep like a hummingbird.
at the time i made this i was feeling homesick. a good friend who felt like home reminded me of hummy. the hummingbird acts as a balance of expressing home with a hidden touch of humor.
Black Lives Matter
Though I (regretfully) haven’t been as vocal on social media about Black Lives Matter, I often find myself at a loss of words after too many fucking tears to even begin to explain the absolute heartbreak and frustration that comes with what’s been going on in this world we live in. To keep George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery’s names and stories alive, I carved their portraits from linoleum blocks and handprinted them.
The list of people who have experienced similar situations continues and I physically would not be able to make a carved block of each person who has a similar story without quitting my job and only carving portraits. While I am more and more disappointed in our species as time goes on and murdering people continues, I am hopeful that we can change.
One way I can help in change is by continuing to keep their names and stories present by spreading my art to others and then donating the money. Pay what you can or pay what you want, I will be receiving no profit and only donating the money towards the organization. I will send/deliver prints and post a screenshot of the donation as a whole.
Size: 5.5in x 7.5in