Artist's Statement

Since September 11, 2001, and in the months preceding the United States’ invasion of Iraq, I have been searching for ways to express my despair over the growing chasms between Arabs and Jews, the rise of animosity between different ethnic groups in the United States, and the growing divide in the quality of life between Third World and developed countries. In my yoga practice, we chant a Sanskrit prayer that translates to: May all beings everywhere live in freedom and peace, and may my actions contribute to this freedom and peace. My art is one way I try to make this contribution. It is my hope that people viewing my art will be moved to feelings of peace and compassion.

I make each piece individually from everyday and found objects, which I extend and transform with paper maché to echo ancient forms. After baking the pieces, I paint and color-wash each one with layers of glaze and paint, so they look as if they had weathered the ages. I then adorn the pieces with icons, images and prayers from the major world religions, as well as objects such as rocks, beads and seashells that have a special significance either from my life, or because of who gave them to me, or where I found them. Each piece is unique and has its own special story. As I work on each piece, I feel as if it is transformed into something sacred.

“One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.