Artist Statement

I am a poet and visual artist in the liberatory tradition of christian mysticism. My poems, prose, and paintings combine material from dreams, the surreal, the prophetic, and the painful. My creative work is a spiritual practice.

I define christian mysticism as direct communion and experience of God through Jesus. I define the prophetic as receiving and expressing messages from God for people’s encouragement and strengthening, not necessarily the foretelling of the future.

The current elements of my life and creative practice are slowing down (presence), the sacred word (focus), sensing (faith + quiet), stillness (art as spiritual practice), rest (trust + dreams), the secret place (the trapdoor), living from the heart (Spirit), simplicity (minimalism), contentment (enjoy!), effortlessness (listening + pacing), fearlessness (letting go), love (union with God), and being my truest self.

Jesus has often been misrepresented. I believe Jesus’ mission–a radical social movement–was to heal (for free!), to teach the best way to live, and to give everyone free, equitable, and equal access to God. I seek, imperfectly, to continue to carry forward Jesus’ mission through my lifework. I accept that I will make mistakes, but my North Star is to continue the mission of Jesus, especially in service of those who have been disinherited, disenfranchised, and abandoned to despair as I once was. I seek to become more loving as I partner with Jesus in creating, and participate in Jesus’ movements for social change.