Growing up in rural Louisiana, the only time I felt I had peace was being in the woods. Watching the trees swaying in the wind and existing in the world brought me joy. Trees are strong and have the power to survive in any environmental conditions. They have the strength I craved as a child. Trees have been the main subject of my prints. As I have grown, I have seen the destruction of the forest I was raised in. The imagery of that is heart-breaking. The way the companies remove the trees for profit, and do not replant or clean the area after destroying it. In a world where humans consume more than the Earth has to offer, it feels as if the world is spiraling into destruction. As we need trees for human existence, we overuse them to a point where they will destroy us. With my unstable mental health, I am always on the verge of either destroying my life or ending it. I am using the imagery of destroyed plant life, which shows one growth from living in survival mode since birth.

Up until my mid-twenties, I lived a constant lifestyle of dealing with an abusive parent, addictive parents, and severe poverty. There is not much a young kid could do to get out of these situations because it is all they know growing up. To go from familiar, unstable life to a new stable, normal is terrifying to me. As I grew up, I was ashamed of my situation, so I did not/ could not safely tell anyone what was happening. As an adult, I am using this newfound voice to express these feelings of hurt and uncertainty.

Exploring mental turmoil in art is not a new concept. Many artists from the past such as Van Gogh, Munch, etc., are now praised for their work expressing their mental anguish. In my work, I use traditional printmaking techniques that are inspired by the contemporary artist Jemma Gunning’s use of intense aquatints in her infrastructure pieces. At the same time, being influenced by artist Kiki Smith in her use of paper as an object rather than just a surface to print.

Through this work, I want to express my struggles of being harmed with the imagery of our forests worldwide being harmed. With this voice, I hope others can find their voice and help with their journey of healing.