Naturally is my first solo exhibition located at the Lei Gallery in Taichung City, Taiwan in May 2022. The show is a reflection of my experiences in Taiwan and uses three forms to tell my story:
plants: growth and new beginnings
female form: acceptance, strength, and vulnerability
dog: friendship and loyalty
In Taiwan, or anywhere where you are taken out of your comfort zone, there are many opportunities to challenge yourself. The sharp learning curve and attempts to find your place in this new environment is illuminating. You can understand a lot about who you are in relation to the people and things you surround yourself with.
While living here, I have grown and have a better understanding of myself. I have learned strength, independence, staying true to who I am and also the importance of building relationships and leaning on your friends in both the joyful moments and when you are struggling.
Be Natural. Seek Connection. Grow Together.
In creating Naturally, I initially wanted to carve a series of block prints. After the first sketches were complete, a few new ideas come to mind and the thought of creating the images out of different materials while still preserving the look and texture associated with with printing was something I wanted to experiment with. I landed on using cork for the final images. Cork is challenging to work with but, once the carving was complete, I found there was a nice contrast and balance between the positive and negative space that created simple, delightful results. Additionally, I threw a mug and bowl and hand built a vessel then hand carved the surfaces to embellish the outer surfaces.
PROCESS
After developing a written concept, I sketched each image in my sketchbook and then took it to the computer to draw it digitally. Using my tablet as a lightbox, I traced the image onto tracing paper. Cutting out the image into various pieces, I developed a template that I traced onto the back of cork. From there, I hand cut the cork and glued each piece onto Arches Watercolor Paper, and voila!