Navigating the Dreamworld

I am currently creating a series of self portraits that explore my process of using lucid dreams to create art and address emotional issues. I am experimenting with a variety of materials.

These are the lace cuffs and collar of a vintage blouse I used to create the nightgown below.

The flesh is represented by upcycled leather.

An old pillowcase has turned into a tiny blouse and skirt.

This is a seedpod from a coral bean tree. It will represent an all-seeing eye.

Burns

I created a small piece that reflects the emotional wounds or "burns" that two people in a relationship can inflict on one another over time. Here are a couple of in progress photos. The torsos are made from recycled sewing pattern paper (tissue paper) and the holes were created with freshly extinguished matchsticks. The final product is currently being photographed.

Experiments in LEATHER

Here are a few things I've been working on:

 I've been hoarding all of my leather scraps in this tiny vintage caramel-colored Samsonite suitcase. My mother found it at a flea market in Albuquerque 25 years ago.

I created a Jaguar-Opossum back patch for my denim jacket  using an old leather skirt and some boots.

These white leather hands are the beginning of a collage that will represent another weird dream of mine.

Protection Ritual

Protection Ritual

cactus, yarn

2014

This bouquet of multiple hands is a symbol of protection created for my home. The use of this difficult (and painful) medium is meant to emphasize my devotion to my family. 

I've Made My Home

I've Made My Home

wasp nests, yarn, paper, ink

2014

I have observed the life cycle of paper wasps as they form their nests around my home. The careful precision of the queen when choosing a location and building her nest is remarkable. Every fall, the wasps die and the nests are left for me to collect. I have filled each empty chamber of these abandoned nests with a tiny roll of paper. The rolls state reasons why San Antonio, Texas was the ideal place for me to build my family and home.

ADIOS

Yesterday I moved out of my shared studio space at The Michigan Building on Woodlawn. The building is being sold and the community of artists that resides there must relocate. This place was a sanctuary for me. I cried as I carried all of my treasure-trash out to my car trip after trip after trip. I'm hopeful that a new place will present itself, but this haunted, crumbling, bright white church building is pretty hard to compete with. Best of luck to all of my artist neighbors! I'll see you around.

TWO GROUP SHOWS THIS FRIDAY EVENING

I will be participating in two large salon style shows this Friday, August 15 at Lady Base Gallery and Plazmo Contemporary. Both galleries are located in the same building, so stop by if you have a chance. These will be the last events held in this building before it is taken over by new owners. I will be showing previously unseen and new work. Check out the links below for more information.

The One and Only at Lady Base Gallery

Remember the Plazmo! at Plazmo Contemporary