I grew up in a small town in Northern Michigan on the coast of Lake Huron.  Nature makes me feel free and being in the woods is relaxing.  I am comforted by the sight of a horizon line over large expanses of water.  My current home is Charlotte, North Carolina and I am uplifted by the number of green spaces and the vibrancy of this growing city.

 

Performance art allows for freedom of expression, storytelling, escape, and even social change.  I am interested in all forms of art as I believe that art is a reflection of life and culture, an emotional release, and where we discover truth.  My training has been in theatre and that is where my greatest interest lies.  I do not view theatre by a narrow definition, but rather encompass all sorts of performance art, such as dance and opera.  Although I deeply value the intimate relationship with the audience in live performance, the project determines the medium and there is no denial of the ability of movies and television to reach a wide audience.  Theatre has been my love, my comfort, and my escape since adolescence.  I chose to focus on Costume Design because I find people fascinating and enjoy creating the visualization of a character's personality.  Having explored acting, directing, and design, I am interested in learning about all areas of art and enjoy opportunities to explore more.  As a young child, I learned how to sew along with engaging in many varieties of sports, music, arts, and crafts projects.  The desire to create something with my own hands has grown into an applicable skill.  

 

I strive to create art that makes people question their beliefs and life choices.  I also feel that having an emotional connection with art can be very powerful.  I believe that experience in life and exposure to variety is what allows us to reflect upon ourselves and discover what our own personal truth is.  We should break free from strict definitions of what art is and use whatever medium is best fit for the individual piece.  I am interested in collaboration between performers, designers, writers, musicians, visual artists, and any number of people that can add to a project.  Art should be socially relevant and politically driven, but there is also importance in pure fantasy and escapist entertainment.