Abstract
Flow State is a collection of marble monotypes printed onto silk, paper, and objects. This work is an immersive printstallation that takes the viewer out of the white gallery setting and drops them into a warm sunny summer day. The process of the creation of this work is the core theme because this printmaking method allowed me to enter a state of flow. Working this way became a self-therapy and healing experience. A way for me to escape my own anxiety. I found that through repetitive activity, I find comfort and calm. Using this concept, I created an installation that allows the viewer to have a space to escape and find comfort and joy. The installation also hints at other favorite activities that activate a flow state for me personally, including farming, tennis, and hanging my laundry to dry.
Artist Statement
I use my printmaking practice to explore mental states that I, and so many others, experience. I question how my body reacts to activities, spaces, and memories, and how that occupies my emotional headspace and furthermore changes the outcomes of my creative process.
As the world is experiencing record high numbers of folks with anxiety, I am searching for a sense of comfort for myself, and hopefully for others. Ultimately, my work does not have definitive answers, but acts as an exploration. Most recently, I’ve been drawn to the idea of flow state. It is the mental state in which a person performs some activity which is fully immersive, resulting in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In essence, flow is characterized by the complete absorption in what one does, and a resulting transformation in one's sense of time. Using acrylic marbling, a process which allows me to enter this state of mind, I aim to create spaces and work that allows others to step away from the stress of everyday life and find comfort.
The subject matter I often work with is serious, but the final product is not meant to feel that way. I strive to create work that is colorful and explores material. I work with a variety of papers, fabric and found objects. I experiment with installation style to make the work playful and often immersive and interactive. A broad range of printmaking techniques are used throughout my work, such as screen print, risograph, relief printing, and most often marbling.