ARTIST Q&A

Born: Brockton, MA

Currently lives: Watertown, MA

Title of artwork: Front: Eclipse Back: Smoke Signals

What’s it about? “Smoke Signals” is a 3’x3’ mixed media painting on canvas that I completed earlier this year. It’s the first painting I’ve completed in a long time that I would consider a landscape. I’m playing around with ways to simplify and flatten mountains, rivers, storms, and architecture. I’m depicting this space with pastel colors and playful forms, however at the same time the scenery has caught fire, and smoke is billowing up into the sky. There is not one specific narrative to the work, however I’m really interested in this piece’s ability to depict a seemingly serious event in a playful way.

“Eclipse” started as a small mixed media drawing that I created specifically for Art in Print. This piece includes many of the same geological, meteorological, and botantanical forms that are present in “Smoke Signals,” but they are working in a different way. I wanted to take my recent interest in the landscape, but abstract it even further into an image that could work as a repeated pattern.

Where else can we find your work? A series of my paintings are a part of the permanent art collection at the Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square. This year, I have also been included in the AreaCode art fair, which was the first art fair exclusively featuring contemporary artists with ties to New England. My work was also included in The Cambridge Art Association’s National Prize Show, and Emerging Artist Exhibition this year.

Favorite holiday tradition? Eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve! I’m not sure how it started, but my family has done this every year since I was a kid

One new thing or practice that has been bringing you joy during COVID-19? Keeping a sketchbook! I’ve never been much of a sketcher, and I’ve tried and failed multiple times to get into it. Quarantine is the first time that I have genuinely enjoyed working in a sketchbook, and I’m already seeing this new practice influence my paintings.

Where is your favorite public art piece in the area? My favorite public art piece I’ve ever seen in Boston was Janet Echelman’s large-scale fabric sculpture that floated above the Greenway. I was really struck by the piece’s ability to transform an entire area of the city. I had never seen a public artwork that did this quite like her’s. I had the pleasure of also attending her artist talk at BU, and I have so much admiration for her and her artistic practice.

What would your last meal be? This is embarrassing, but probably chicken fingers and fried. With honey mustard!

Go-to karaoke song? I have a horrible singing voice and try to avoid karaoke at all costs!

Title / Author you would choose if it was your turn to host Book Club? Samantha Irby!