Let Go (2024)
This is a practice in letting go.
Using a diverse array of collage materials, I enlist gravity's help to compose this series. After selecting my collage materials, I relinquish control and let them fall where they may—literally. In doing so, I suspend my thoughts and conditioned habits, resulting in outcomes more interesting than I could have imagined. Once the procedure is complete, I reclaim the power of assigning meaning, as we humans often do.
Much like life's journey, this series portrays a cycle of choice, chance, acceptance, and interpretation. I encourage viewers to spend time with the work, asking themselves: What could it be? What could it mean to me?
Each piece is listed in chronological order and is accompanied by a brief reflection. I hope these notes spark your curiosity and wonder.
Discovery, mixed media on mat board, 7.5” x 7.5” - Sold
It was late at night after a long day of work. Tired but needing to create something for myself, free from contracts or cameras, I embarked on a simple experiment with no serious expectations. Embracing a meditative state, I used peculiar cutouts, trimmings, and negative space, allowing my mind to rest as I watched something unfold. This process stirred a visceral delight in me, as I laughed in surprise and awe at the unexpected arrangements. Trusting the process, I found that accepting the outcomes led to resolutions, even if they weren't perfect. That night, I knew I had discovered something profound and special.
Bridge, mixed media on mat board, 7.5” x 7.5”
After discovering this process, I felt like a scientist. I made interesting observations about how the pieces would fall, noticing resistance, weight, and other physics principles. One particularly interesting observation was how pieces gravitated towards each other, forming clumps with a magnetic pull. Halfway through this piece, all the materials gathered along opposite sides of the matboard, creating two distinct worlds. Finally, one piece fell between them, connecting them physically. This process revealed unexpected patterns and connections, illustrating the beauty of randomness and the surprising harmony that can emerge from chaos.
Portal, mixed media on mat board, 7.5” x 7.5”
By letting these wayward scraps fall spontaneously into that flat space, I felt as though I was creating small worlds where materials gathered randomly to create unique forms. It felt like a suspended moment in time, where momentum was documented, imprinted, and distilled, like a thought in progress. These fallen objects found their place mostly by coincidence—there was no real rhyme or reason, but my mind perceived that something was there, taking me somewhere.
Surprise, mixed media on mat board, 7.5” x 7.5”
The parallel between this process and the way we create meaning is striking. In reality, we have little control over much of our circumstances, but we do control how we perceive them. We often create meaning out of the meaningless, which is sometimes a beautiful and creative act. Each individual’s interpretation mirrors their unique worldview and experiences. With this in mind, I wonder what surprising insights my own interpretations reveal about my inner world.
Look, mixed media on wood, 12” x 15”
Using simple titles that have significance to me and my experience of the work, I keep them open-ended enough to allow you to form your own associations. It’s an invitation to imagine. In this instance, the word "look" refers to the base image that I repurposed for this collage as well as a specific piece of material that becomes apparent pretty quickly. More importantly, however, the title is a call to action (or perhaps a call to stillness?). Look—and see what you find in front of you and within you. In doing so, you may discover that the act of looking closely reveals layers of meaning and insight, transforming the simple into the profound.
Sit, mixed media on wood, 12” x 15”
This is the second piece in the series where I used a background that was not empty white space. This collage began with a hot orange background, which I ultimately whited out, bringing me peace with this piece. I preserved a little bit of heat around the seat, calling for me to settle down and settle in. Through this process, I found a sense of tranquility and grounding, inviting viewers to pause and immerse themselves in the moment. It serves as a reminder to embrace moments of stillness amidst life's chaos, finding solace in the simplicity of being present.
Under My Chair, mixed media on framed canvas, 17.5" x 21.5"
I take this experiment to explore the relationships I have with specific spots in my home. Using images of objects from my dining room in "Under My Chair" and from my living room in "Midday Dream," I create dreamscapes that reflect these personal spaces.
Midday Dream, mixed media on canvas, 21” x 21”
Explore, mixed media on mat board, 10" x 10"
As I leaned into creating my own meaning, I became more curious about the edges and the framed structure of these pieces. I had always trimmed the board or panel, leaving clean, straight edges. By not trimming the edges, I emphasized the objecthood of collage elements, allowing them to break the limit of the support, straddling the boundary between physical and illusory form. In this piece, I saw a desire to break the frame. It was not fully realized yet, but the margins were being explored.
Watch, mixed media on framed wood, 12.5" x 15.5"
I’ve committed to the frame as an integral and permanent element of the art. The collage objects not only extend beyond the frame but also wrap around the sides. I find this freeing, as if the materials had some autonomy. Perhaps it is just a chaotic coming and going, or a disregard for boundaries that feels like autonomy. Either way, the looseness created by incorporating the frame allows me to see scenarios of actions and consequences that touch a tender part of my soul. Sometimes, all I could do was watch these interactions unfold, appreciating the unexpected beauty they revealed.
Wonder, mixed media on framed wood, 12.5" x 15.5"
I still wonder about what this one means to me. It is truly a dreamscape, with various terrains: a solar flare, recorded thoughts, spilled coffee—all at once. These separate moments, whether cosmic, intentional, or accidental, converge and challenge me to find coherence within the layers, revealing personal meaning in the interplay of disparate elements. Moments like this make me question whether it has to mean anything at all. Can it simply be?
Turn Around, mixed media on framed wood, 26” x 38”
At this stage of the series, I feel incredibly vulnerable. Is this process opening some kind of floodgate in my psyche? Or is it simply holding up a mirror to vulnerability I am experiencing for other reasons? Either way, this piece, for me, is about changing the story, choosing a new perspective, and refusing to lose myself in the dark places the mind creates. It represents a moment in my journey where I let in, let go, and then turn around.
Hold On, mixed media on framed wood, 26” x 38”
What do we hold on to? What do we let go of? At times, when I approach a dark place in my mind, I find myself holding onto negative thoughts and letting go of the notion that things can and will change. This piece is about swapping that narrative: letting go of negative thoughts and holding on to the notion that things can and will change. As this practice in letting go has taught me, even when it is incredibly difficult, if I hold onto life, release expectations, and trust the process, I will be surprised by how change and evolution always manifest.