Pieces of Me
This body of work evolved from a desire to show the healing power of art in veterans dealing with Post Traumatic Stress and other chronic mental and physical conditions from their service in the military. Unfortunately, the pandemic made this increasingly difficult. Instead of figuring out the logistics of meeting with, recording, and photographing other veterans during a pandemic, I decided to go with the one person I had unlimited access to...me. Pieces of Me is an introspective look at my life post-Army as I deal with my own mental and physical health and the struggles therein.
For many years, my work was all about the serious nature of veterans’ mental health. It was raw, gritty, and often difficult to experience. Through this project, I had a breakthrough when I realized that even though my subject is of a serious nature, it doesn’t have to be serious. There is room for humor, a bit of the absurd, and a little cheeky fun. Since then I have allowed more of my true self to show; inserting little bits of my love of science fiction, humor, and absolute absurdity sprinkled in with the seriousness of the subject. In fully expressing my true nature, I have found more healing and inspiration in the past months than in many years of making art.
Pieces of Me is best experienced with an open mind and a bit of humor. Images, composites, and photo sculptures are my way of bringing the intangible, memories, nightmares, thoughts of suicide, etc. into the physical world where I can deal with them, work with them, and understand them. In that understanding, I can take control and find a new, healthier way of looking at life.
