Artist's statement

My search for artistic, spiritual and political expression began as a young person learning about racism, genocide, and social injustice.  Early study with a hatha yogi and work with Tibetan healers, followed by years reading The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth, and the regular presence of African and Native American drummers – all inspired and focused my art.  Years of collaboration with a Native-American arts organization brought a greater understanding of traditional cultures and their perspective on the natural world.   My work as an artist has followed these themes and influences.

Throughout this time, relationships with Tibetans and Tibet resonated deeply within me.  Travel to China, India, Israel, and Tibet set in motion a deeper knowing of my truth.    Experiences with the Director of Tibetan Art, Tibetan lamas, and His Holiness The Dalai Lama have guided my art, and life. 

For the last fifteen years I have been working on a series of Tibetan influenced oil paintings. The images in my paintings stand for qualities we can develop such as compassion, community, and knowledge while others are political statements about Tibet and my intentions for the world.  What I found in Tibetan spiritual practices and thangka painting was a natural sense of connection, and my path to artistic expression.

February 2017

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