ART

I grew up in Saint die des Vosges, a small town in northern France, where printmakers during the sixteenth centuryproducedearly maps of the new world. The word America was first mentioned in the famousWaldseemullermap, originally published in April 1507 in Saint die des Vosges.

The cartographicelements of the grid and symbols in maps have appearedin my paintings over the years and in a way, rooted my art practice in the history of image making.

Moving tothe city of Chicagoand seeing the graffiti in the urban landscape, the experiencebroughtme back to my childhood memories of cartography andsymbols.

For the graffiti artist, thesiteand scale of the image play an important role in the strength of the message. The graphic images correspond to the social and political upheaval in their lives and the world. I am inspired by thedirectnessand spontaneity ofsymbols and markmaking. I also incorporate contemporarytitlesof music in the paintings prompting rhythmic dance movements. I choose specific flora andfauna from nature toactivate thesenses (touch, smell, and sound).The bright neoncolor palette of the paintingscome fromstreetsignsandpublic emergency vehicles to warn ofboundariesand directions.

Iconsider art an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation with the world today.