The American Dream is a bizarre concept. Collectively, we are slaves to consumption, denying our role in climate change, running out of water, going backwards, in search of what, really? Some of us are evolving, some are stuck in a dark past and celebrate ignorance. Yet we share custody of our physical, emotional and spiritual space. As we all know, mothers worry. I feel a maternal sense of guardianship for vulnerable and struggling people of all ages and walks of life, and the environment. In my work, I sometimes explore the interplay between the micro scale and the human footprint. I like to create imagery that is rooted in the natural world and also summoned from my imagination. It is a celebration of beauty and a reminder of our responsibility as a species with the gift of forethought. Often surreal and dystopian, constructed scenes flow into dream worlds rooted in the reality of the present day—realms of not only what is seen, but what is felt. Works are informed by concepts of stewardship, activism, playfulness, and awe. I am interested in politics, climate change, labor, women's rights, and social/environmental justice. Some art works are more personal and touch on the push-pull energy of life's various social roles that are both depleting and inspiring: being a woman in the USA and a mother. I like soft and hard, pretty and ugly, together. My artistic process is guided by layering, the physical qualities of textures, forms and colors, storytelling, and humor. I enjoy exploring different tactile qualities and creating images that are intuitive. I like to use symbols to explore ideas: human teeth, fingernails, fishing lures, cacti and organisms from the ocean. For example, I include teeth because as humans, we all have teeth no matter what we look like. To me they represent a shared experience of sorts and a connection.