Lost and Found is a collection of work documenting my journey with nature-based, mixed-media materials. It is a hands-on exploration of my recovery from memory loss caused by the trauma of caregiving and the recent passing of my parents. My spirit has always been deeply rooted in the raw, untamed beauty of the Great Lakes shorelines—a connection forged during the endless hours I spent on my father's boat while growing up.

My process of combining paint with found objects began a decade ago at Pigeon Lake under Professor David Holmes with “The Door of the Toad”—an ever-evolving piece that keeps me playful. With “Young Doe,” I discovered the beauty of minimal marks and the process of pareidolia, letting the wood's natural patterns and textures dictate the composition. Each wood piece represents an actual wildlife encounter that brought a sense of joy and spiritual connection, serving as a permanent memory marker. This practice ultimately led to “Gentle Buck” and most recently “She Wolf,” as well as the rest of the series on birch bark. 

The large pieces of old-growth birch bark used throughout this series were gathered from the forest floors of the Great Lakes region. Preparing each surface is a deeply labor-intensive ritual that requires hours of careful cleaning, flattening, and gluing.

Field collecting, en plein air painting, and photography have long been vital to my artistic process in remote areas. My large oil paintings, “Lake Superior Shore” and “Island Light Above the 45th,” translate these immediate field studies and photographs into expansive studio works. This practice culminates on the fourth floor of the Kemper Center, where my studio space allows me to quiet my mind and meditate on the shifting rhythms of the lake's light.

Ultimately, this collection stands as a testament to the quiet medicine found in the wilderness and the studio. When words failed to repair the fractures of trauma, immersing myself in nature and the creative process became my sanctuary, proving that art has the profound power to stitch us back together.