I grew up in Saco, Maine.
Close enough to the coast that we rode our bicycles to the beach in the Summer (dreamy). Locking my bike up to the fence behind the hot dog cart, I’d watch the tourists line up in that thick salty haze of steamed buns and roasted meats. I’d feel my jealousy rising, anchored to the sloppy peanut butter and jelly sandwich wrapped in wax paper at the bottom of my backpack. But — wasn’t it always better than I’d expect it to be? The hot jam melting onto the inside face of the whole wheat bread (it’s better for you), sort of crystallizing, and tasting like full-bodied independence.
My Grandparents lived nearby, in Wells. My Grandmother Dorothy was magical (feminist; teacher; infinite source of love, lobster, and pancakes). She introduced me to one of the most formative places in my life: the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Walking along the elevated wooden pathways, breathing in the richly sour marshlands, I witnessed the responsibility we bear to protect our wild spaces. The refuge gave me a sense of belonging (as a wild thing myself) and a lifelong belief in womenpower.
I didn’t have the same worries then as I do now, about the health our environment and the strength of our communities. I didn’t imagine that I’d lose more rights as a grown-up. I didn’t imagine that other (protected) groups would lose rights, as well. At a pivotal time in my early adulthood, I moved to Seattle — for sisterhood, the endless Pacific, towering peaks, and a lingering sense of the (yet) untamed. In an inexplicable way, I felt I was returning home from a long journey lasting many lifetimes. I imagine I shared the same relief the sockeye do after passing through the locks for the last time. I love celebrating and communing with the wild spaces that remain here, I am moved and inspired by witnessing them persist. For me, making art underscores the importance of protectecting the wild that exists around, and in, all of us.
I am a longtime member of SCBWI Western Washington and the Connected Artists Club. As a part-time employee at the University of Washington, I’m a freelance artist with close connections to the education and arts communities.
Purchasing my work means you’re also supporting the following organizations with on-going donations to:
OnlyOne - as a member of “The Tide”, I’m dedicated to supporting efforts to restore the ocean and tackle the climate crisis.
And with periodic donations to:
