While living in Los Angeles, I became particularly impacted by the wildfires. My current series addresses anxiety felt from that environmental stress and ties it with female vulnerability.
I drew the parallel while I was running along a trail and became panic-stricken as I recalled the warnings of what happens to girls who run alone. It raised the question: why do I instinctively feel afraid and how has that been ingrained into my gender?
I feel women are often conditioned to be afraid as a survival tactic. As I continue creating, I realize this fear is shared by Mother Earth, as she too feels the constant threat of aggression experienced by most women. Yet despite the ominous insinuations, these paintings are imbued with power and strength, reminding us of the ability of nature – and humans – to adapt and overcome.
