Artist Statement

The gentle sounds of the babbling brook murmur in my ear as I jump across the river rocks, arms wide to hold my balance on the slippery surfaces. The patterns of dappled sunlight bespeckle the pages of my Agatha Christie novel as I read under the Great Magnolia. The crisp smell of fresh autumn leaves fall gently like snow onto the patches of soft green grass underneath my bare feet. Wandering alone in the forests, foraging and collecting acorns and other treasures in my pockets. Sounds of laughter, climbing trees, and lying among the branches. The feeling of belonging as the whole community gathers on Canton Street during warm summer evenings for Alive After 5. These are the moments that have stayed with me throughout the years, and the memories that come back to me as I return home. As the end of this chapter in my life draws near, I find myself returning to my old haunts and reminiscing my youth: from the roaring sounds of the Old Mill to the spray of the waterfall on my face at Vickery Creek. Feeling the wind in my hair as I dance on the hills of Leita Thompson in the golden hour and watching the sunset turn into twinkling starlight late into the night.

The documentation of my memories has always been a very important concept to me. Roswell Roots is inspired by the nostalgic remembrance of my girlhood and the passage of time in my hometown of Roswell, Georgia. Through these pieces, I study the connection between specific locations and the experiences that occur there, and how they tell a story that isn't always evident at first glance. All of these are places of significance to me, because they hold countless memories and show where I come from. Although this is just the beginning portion of the journey I am on, this body of my work allows viewers to wonder at the legacy and the rich history of this little town. Even though we may never know how many stories can be found on maps, Roswell Roots reveals just a taste of what this little point has offered.