Paying Reverence to The Altar of Memories

We are wells and chambers of memories. The brain retains or stores these information sequences to protect us, inform our decisions, and assist in critical thinking. There are memories that our brains hide deep within a maze, within a chamber, and sometimes will expose them when we are ready to begin the journey of processing. Recently, my memories have demanded my attention.

In this series, I am honoring the memories that have been difficult and traumatic to confront and honoring those who keep hope as a constant. It was important to use self-portraits taken at different stages in my life and combine the line work and color saturation that runs through my previous work. The work is shown in memory chambers with no real timeline order; some are separate recollections. This is how the memories present themselves in my mind.

I am investigating how I process these memories. Does the process of continued recollection remove a strain of truth with each recall? What will I find when I give space to a memory purposely forgotten? I am also releasing the power some of the memories hold, not to cast them into darkness again, but for acceptance. If needed, forgive the events that created them. This series is a living portfolio; new pieces are added when a memory deserves attention. I am beginning this processing journey to offer them and myself Grace."

This series has been exhibited at the George Washington Carver Museum in Austin, Texas, Line Hotel in Austin, Texas, and the South Dallas Cultural Center in Dallas, Texas.