Lyrical Earth Colors
Jansen Art Center, Lynden, WA, 2018
In 2012, by chance, I came across used sanding belts whose shape and texture intrigued me. I began transforming them into folded sculptures and paintings. The used belts, in a variety of sizes, contain marks made by the wood during the sanding process. Their patterns often guide my composition. I draw with resin wood and raw earth, still in its rock form, directly on the belts. I also apply ground earth pigments mixed with gum arabic (sap from the acacia tree) as a binder.
In some of the works, I incorporate turmeric and shilajit (Ayurveda medicine) as well as beeswax and handmade Nepali paper. I often combine beeswax with everyday objects to create a new context for discarded items. By contrast, I also gather natural materials from ocean beaches to create new sculptures.
