Archival Print
Print size: 11"x 14"
Framed size: 13"x 16"
 
This photograph was taken six days after Hurricane Helene, during the long days of gutting buildings and salvaging what little could be saved. The mud covered everything and everyone. It clung to our boots, our clothes, our hands, and our memories. Those who walked through it can understand the weight it carried. This image is a reminder of that shared burden and the quiet courage of those who kept moving through it.
 
Art, for me, emerges from the meeting point of personal experience and collective resilience. My work is deeply rooted in the community of Western North Carolina, shaped by the raw authenticity of our struggles and the strength that rises from them. Pieces made in the wake of Helene hold the imprint of that time: the smell of wet wood, the heaviness of silt, the ache of loss, and the determination to rebuild.
 
The textures and forms I explore reflect the beauty found in imperfection and the stories embedded in the objects and landscapes around us. My practice is not only about creating images or artifacts; it is about honoring the people who weathered the storm and the relationships forged in those muddy days. The process becomes a dialogue, an invitation for viewers to reflect on their own experiences of upheaval and recovery.
 
This photograph stands as both a document and a reflection. It asks us to remember what was, to acknowledge what changed, and to hold space for what is growing in its place. It carries forward the reminder that guided us through those days: what was will never be again. Cherish the memories. Nurture the new as it grows.
 
Together, we rise, support one another, and find strength in our shared humanity.