Artist Statement
Through art, we discuss and analyze visual problems, perform, use the body kinetically and tactilely, interact with other people, as well as have internal dialogue. These concepts are important to me and play a major part in my process when I work. Process is everything. When I get into my visual work, I like to play. My best work comes out when I have bits and pieces of images that I can manipulate and put together. I usually have a very loose plan when I start out in the studio. When I do have a set plan, it is often quite vague and it always lends itself to transformation. The concept seems to not be known at first until it works its way to the surface when it is revealed upon completion. It takes several stages of experimentation, modifications, mistakes, and directional turns that lead to the final stage. For me, I have discovered the most depth and growth in my work is all in the process. Some of my work walks that line between being described as “ugly” and “beautiful”. There is a hidden attractiveness in things, not just an aesthetic beauty, but also a beauty of contemplation and process. The beauty comes from pure mark making and kinetic involvement of creating the form.
Shows
- 2014 YISD Faculty Art Exhibition, La Galeria de la Mision de Senecu, El Paso, TX
- 2014 Machine Project, Cuadro, El Paso, TX
- 2014 Kids' Cafe Art Workshop Series, Joe, Vinny & Bronson's Bohemian Cafe, El Paso, TX
- 2014 3Regions, 2 Borders, 1 Vision, Honeyguide Gallery, El Paso, TX
- 2014 Caldo Collective Grant Recipient, El Paso, TX
- 2013 Chalk the Block Artist, El Paso, TX
- 2013 YISD Faculty Art Exhibition, La Galeria de la Mision de Senecu, El Paso, TX, 1st Place
- 2013 Collective Consciousness, La Galeria de la Mision de Senecu, El Paso, TX
- 2013 Border Body, Mixing Cities & Identities, Gallery MD_S, Poland
- 2013 Last Thursday's, Purple Pop Up Gallery, El Paso, TX
- 2013 Raw Beauty, La Galeria de la Mision de Senecu, El Paso, TX
- 2012 Graduate Exhibition Solo Show "Vigorous", El Paso, TX
- 2012 YISD Faculty Art Exhibition, La Galeria de la Mision de Senecu, El Paso, TX, 1st Place
- 2011 YISD Faculty Art Exhibition, La Galeria de la Mision de Senecu, El Paso, TX, 3rd Place
- 2010 Grabado Student PrintMaking Show, Union Gallery, El Paso, TX
- 2010 YISD Faculty Art Exhibition, La Galeria de la Mision de Senecu, El Paso, TX, 1st Place
- 2009 YISD Faculty Art Exhibition, La Galeria de la Mision de Senecu, El Paso, TX, Honorable Mention
- 2008 YISD Faculty Art Exhibition, La Galeria de la Mision de Senecu, El Paso, TX, Honorable Mention
- 2007 Olo Gallery, El Paso, TX, call for submissions
- 2006 Salon de Refuse UTEP Student Exhibition, Fox Fine Arts, El Paso, TX, Honorable Mention
- 2005 Annual Juried UTEP Student Exhibition, Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center, El Paso, TX
- Experience
- 2008-Current, YISD High School Art Teacher
- 2009, Frogman's Print Workshop Participant, University of South Dakota
- 2007-2008, El Paso Museum of Art, Outreach Coordinator
- 2007, University of Texas at El Paso Bachelor's in Fine Arts with a minor in Education
- 2005-Current, Girl Scout Art Work Shops
Bio
Like most fresh high school graduates, when I started college I was not too sure what I wanted to do. I planned on working on my basics and letting it work itself out. I had taken a few education classes, but they did not resonate well with me. I did not immediately feel the inclination to educate. I took a drawing class the first semester of my sophomore year and to my surprise, I hated it! I lasted a few weeks, but felt so out of place that I stopped showing up to class and eventually dropped the course. I continued taking education courses but still I felt this was not the right path for me. After a time, I decided to give the drawing class another try. To my delight, the drawing class the second time around was phenomenal. Like most art educators, I battled with the idea of choosing between the art education world and the artistic world. I already had quite a few education courses and it only seemed logical to take the route of becoming an art educator. Since making that career-defining decision to become an art educator, the process of creating has become highly important to me; I decided to embark on a life journey that involved the balance of art and art education. My educational journey included completing my Bachelor’s of Fine Arts with a minor in Education at the University of Texas at El Paso in 2007. I went on to work as the Outreach Coordinator at the El Paso Museum of Art. It was there at the Museum of Art that I was able to spread my art education wings a little after college. Putting my degree into practice, I gave tours of the museum to various groups of patrons, including school groups. I wrote curricula about our local collection, and I created outreach programming for our community. Working there, I got the inclination to begin my Master’s in Art Education to continue my quest as a visual educator. I worked for the museum for almost a year when I landed a job as an art teacher at my high school alma mater. Even though teaching the first year is always hectic, I decided to continue with the Master’s program. After all, “Where is the boundary between art and life?” (Saunders, 2009). I chose the Studio Emphasis route using printmaking as my focus and began creating. I recently completed my graduate program with my graduate exhibition show titled, "Vigorous". I am very excited to have finished and to see what doors open up for me in the artistic world.