Artist Statement
November, 2004

In my work, I use a range of images from different styles of art and periods in art history. The purpose of the paintings is not illustration; often, the images are presented as painterly approximations or even pencil sketches. My intent is to combine a variety of signifiers to awaken reflection; for example, in one painting, dancers from a Tibetan tanka tumble out from under the skirts of a Breugel character while Giotto’s angels look on. What is the meaning of that? In answering that question, the viewer must rely on intuition. For the most part, I have tried to keep the canvas a vast space without reference points, allowing the figures to communicate open-endedly with each other and with the viewer, suggesting themes and narratives that extend beyond their original cultural significance.