In 2017, I had an epiphany while witnessing a mama sea turtle return to her birthplace to nest. So began my connection with these creatures and their incredible, primordial journey. It’s a story I’ve expressed through a series of acrylic abstracts titled Turtle Tracks Art. By coaxing layer upon layer of paint and textures to depict the synergy of patterns of each specific sea turtle track, I am able to record the interplay inherent in nature and capture the emotion in human interactions before they vanish.
Viewing art strikes a chord with many people, becoming a shared experience and connecting the viewer to the moment and with something bigger than themselves. We know that visual messages have far greater impact than words alone. New messages will emerge for visual understanding, depth and truth. The artist, as messenger, has a unique responsibility to invite interpretation, empowerment, respect —and action. I believe my vibrant artwork has great potential in a time of 24-hour images and 30-second reactions. My goal is to document the fragility of life, its resilience, and provide a reminder of the universal thread that connects every living thing.
I’m including this 11 minute video of my solo exhibition for the Morean Arts Center at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, FL, USA. You will be able to see the PixelStix, which is an implementation of the hardware agnostic IOT platform ObjectVoice, that are attached in an archival manner to the back of my paintings, behind my signature. Any person viewing my painting can download the free app, PixelStix, to their phone, point it at my signature, and a video of me talking about the particular sea turtle track depicted in that painting will appear on their phone.
