I think the fear of forgetting and being forgotten is a quality all people share. I try to use this "universal truth" as a way to get us to connect in more intimate ways. I am interested in how contemporary life has altered our memories, social interactions, and psychology in a way that pulls us away from each other. I use myself as a starting point, laying bare my memories and using my own vulnerability to initiate an intimate connection to the viewer. In my work, I reference what I think of as humanity's connecting threads by incorporating objects and materials that are imbued with nostalgia or sentimentality. I am often pulled to work with used fabric in my studio practice because of its inherent intimate, personal quality (it's constantly touching our skin). Aesthetic references to degradation, ephemera, and family photographs are common themes in my layered, multi-media works. Ultimately, it is my hope that interactions with my work help to reinforce a physical and emotional connection to each other and the space around us.