Why FSU?

I chose to attend FSU to pursue a graduate degree because of the institution's status as a tier I research university and the ability I would have at FSU to work with people in other disciplines. Facilities such as SCAP, the Innovation Hub, FAB Lab, and the Facility for Arts Research serve as excellent examples of what can be achieved collaboratively between different areas of study. I wanted to expand the active network of professionals I was building and find new ways to explore the boundaries of art making.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I wanted to get a graduate degree to be able to teach at a higher level and to have the time to hone my craft as an artist. The residency afforded by the art program at FSU has given me the time to drastically change the main part of my practice to fiber-based art. Developing this skill is something that can usually take a decade or more, but can happen at FSU in only three years because of the availability of experts like Teneé Hart and the facilities and equipment in the Department of Art.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

My art practice finds beautiful and dignified ways to show the invisible parts of being disabled. The art uses repetition, accumulation, and embellishment to elevate the rituals and history of disability. The acts of stitching, beading, sewing, sculpting, printing, and collecting mirror the daily acts of disability without being literal documentation or social performance.

Career aspirations

I want to be able to own and manage a community print and ceramics shop. I will teach classes out of the shop, maintain a gallery for underrepresented artists in the community, and make expensive art equipment available through affordable and expert-supported membership.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Don't go right from your undergraduate degree to a graduate program. I think it is important to go live life a little and make some mistakes to help figure out what it is you really want out of your life. Taking a break is also critical to keep from getting burned out.

Accomplishments during graduate career

I have continued to participate in the Southeastern College Art Conference (SECAC) as I finished my degree, sharing this opportunity with some of my peers last year. I applied for my first fellowship and got an honorable mention. I have been averaging between 10-24 shows each year, seeking out more national and international venues and more juried opportunities. I win numerous scholarships, awards, and travel grants and keep applying, as I am steadily working toward my goal of finishing my MFA. Among my accomplishments, I received an honorable mention for the SECAC Fellowship, Best in Show at the Turner Spring into Art 2023, second place SECAC art show 2020, and I am a finalist for the 2024 HSF Graduate Student Excellence in the Visual Arts Award.

Hobbies and interests outside of school

I play guitar, sing, and read.