Do you remember you are water?

Awareness of this truth – acknowledging that we are all bodies of water and recognizing the unnamed ways we encounter water in our lives – is a source of inspiration for my artistic practice. Leaning into this awareness and allowing it to transform my life is embedded in each painting, inviting others to remember too.

When the Water Calls Me Back showcases a selection of paintings from my Water Series (2015 - present) created with collected water and sediment from significant freshwater sources in the Midwest: the Mississippi River, St. Croix River, Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.

During moments of pivotal life changes, I’ve found myself drawn to the Mississippi River, comforted by my relationship with the water. In return, I wanted to find a way to honor and thank her for all she provides. 

In June 2015, I carried two large buckets to the shoreline, dipped them into the river and brought the water back to my studio, beginning my Water Series. Not knowing what would emerge but trusting the voice of the river to move through me, I closed my eyes and felt the movement of her current. I recalled the luminous reflections and her strong, steady flow as I poured the collected water, mixed with acrylic, over the canvas. A new painting technique emerged and over the next several months I expanded it to include collected sediment as well. Since those first poured paintings, I have developed an extensive body of work comprising more than 100 original pieces.

My studio practice has shifted and evolved as I have refined my ability to listen to the natural world. What inspires me today has the same threads that originally brought me to the shorelines: awe and gratitude. Each painting represents my deep relationship with water and is a call to tell our water stories. I invite you to remember that you are a body of water too.