A sense of faith

The wonder of what lies beyond the physical world has perplexed humankind since the beginning of the historical record. The major questions: what was before? and what will be after? Although there are certainly as many answers to these two questions as there have been humans on the earth, a constant theme runs through them. The use of physical objects, as well as ritual, has been a part of nearly every religious or spiritual movement. Although true faith lies not in proof, physical sensation is a common tool in evoking or creating religious experiences among practitioners. Whether in the form of objects such as clothing, tools, symbols, or in the form of ritual, every major religion alters the physical reality of the supplicant in the pursuit of sacred knowledge.

My own exploration of my thoughts regarding the interfacing of faith and physical perception is the basis of my work. I particularly use my work as a tool to help me think about my beliefs and how they relate to the structures of the organized religion in which I was raised. I use many materials and some of the pieces may appear disparate. Every piece, however, relates to my own struggle to understand my own spirituality. The work is rarely narrative. Most of the pieces express a specific idea that I was having trouble processing. They are objects, first and foremost. Some are functional in the traditional sense of jewelry, vessel, etc., but many of them are meant purely to be decorative objects. Their function is to be observed in every way, and as such they can be spiritual or religious tools.