Grandpa Zakani, 2001
Hand dyed, silk screened cotton. Includes vintage cotton, circa 1950. Pierced and quilted 25" x 20"

I want to make portraits of people that speak to the viewer on different levels. I want to be able to communicate who my subject is, their personality, their lifestlye -- not just what they look like. Using fiber as a medium allows me to say much more about my subjects. We respond to fiber differently than we do other mediums. When people see my work their first instinct is to touch it. Not only are their eyes getting a message, but their tactile senses are intrigued. Some of my work looks luxurious -- you want to feel that smooth cool satin. Others are warm and make you feel comforted -- you want to feel their softness. Still others are study and worn, translating the roughness of the subject.

I find people infinitely interesting, and I am always challenged to try and represent the multi-layers of the human psyche in an artistic medium.