WHEN CREATING ARTWORK YOURSELF, WHAT DO YOU STRIVE FOR?

Growing up in Tulsa, I often shot everyday life and local residents. Finding inspiring scenes to shoot in Tulsa was not an easy endeavor. I had to search for small intricacies in everyday life that stood out to me, and still create a representation of Tulsa that is true.

This mindset is something I have tried to hold onto as I travel and live in new places. In Austin, it is a little more difficult because it is so saturated with people, architecture, and scenes that are inherently inspiring. I find myself searching for objects that look out of place or peculiar scenes that catch my attention.

What CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS OR PROJECTS DO YOU FIND INSPIRING OR INNOVATIVE?

I recently came across Christine Sun Kim, a New York based artist who is questioning the ownership of sound through her most recent work. This video is where I watched Sun Kim effortlessly articulate her work. Hearing Sun Kim explain the meaning behind her projects, immediately made me question the ownership of sound as well. The work she is producing is progressive and beautiful.

Kara Walker’s A Subtlety is another contemporary art exhibit that recently caught my attention. This past summer I had the opportunity to visit the Domino Sugar Factory to see Walker’s work, A Subtlety. When we first arrived to the site, it was overcast out, slowly it started to rain, and then it was pouring. Visitors who had been waiting in line ran away quickly, pushing my friends and me to the front. Albeit drenched from the rain, walking into the factory was breathtaking. The giant female sphinx made of sugar cubes shined brightly at the opposite end of the exhibit space. The dampness from the storm and the sound of the rain, the lighting, and the overall mass of the sphinx made the visit truly multi-sensory.

In the NEXT TEN YEARS, WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY?

I would love to work for an art-focused company or organization that has educational components within its mission. In the next ten years I think it would be fun to live in a different city or cities to meet new people and experience different cultures and scenes. The idea of starting my own non-profit centered around photography and young students is appealing to me, but not something I want to embark on just yet!

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