March 2005

Born in 1978 in Toronto, and currently revisiting Toronto to complete my BFA at OCAD, but for the last few years, I have lived all over the west coast of Canada. A graduate of Capilano College’s Studio Art program in Vancouver, I was also recipient of a generous grant by the British Columbia Center for International Education to study overseas at a college just outside Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia. There I studied photography, painting, life drawing and Asian art history. Upon my return to Canada, I lived in the small mountain town of Nelson, B.C for two years, where I developed this body of work.

Over the years, I have observed how gathering for the purpose of dance is intimately connected to spiritual, political and social growth and change. Events create community and carve personal identity, vital elements in what can be an otherwise disconnected, anonymous experience of city living. Nightclubs and bars become the arenas for many forms of expression. All of which inspire my life and my paintings. From light shows, visual artists, spoken word performances, to political information tables, all have inspired my work.

The thought of capturing many moments in time in one image is intriguing for me. I also aim to convey the feeling or vibe of the environment and the people in it. Chaos, confusion, the mystery of smoke, flashing lights and darkness. These mixed with euphoria, joy and a feeling of oneness, as experienced in a crowd at a concert. Our nightlife culture is constantly evolving, as technology advances and tastes change. My work will respond in kind.