Artist Statement

“Much of my work examines the innate beauty of nature versus the cosmic intervention of people. My cultural sense is grounded in that every object has a meaningfulness or spirit. Every rock, every tree, every element contributes to our connection to this world and keeps us rooted to an ancestral past. With the small figures, I am interested in their talismanic aspect and iconic relationship with the world at large. They can symbolize the preciousness, wonder or intimacy that is set aside and lost from our everyday adult life. The portrait busts are more inclined to a broader narrative and symbolic interpretation. The meaning of faith, belief, fortune, chance and life’s ironies weave in and out. This adds a sense of mystery and innate connection to the multicultural landscape of the human figure.

In 2004, I graduated with a B.F.A. in Traditional Arts. My main emphasis was in ceramics and printmaking. I continued to work at the university as an adjunct faculty/lab technician gaining invaluable experiences with making glazes and firing kilns.

Born in the middle of the United States, I am half Japanese and half Cajun. My mother was half a continent and an ocean away from her rising sun. My father was in the army and stationed everywhere except his home state of Louisiana. My influences come form this mixture of East meets West. Sinto and Roman Catholic. Japanese spirits and bayou ghosts. Teacups and chalices. Tied together with joyous humor and quiet rituals.”