Artist Statement 

Left Behind is a body of work that examines the concept of the aftermath of war, PTSD, and the soldier's relationship to time in the service. I have created a body of artwork from my experiences and conversations as a spouse and friend to soldiers, which has given me a unique look into the vulnerable layers that hide behind the surface. The artwork strips away the idea of the physical images of the self to be conceptualized through tactile materials.

The thin canvas ribbon in army green and tan represents the military institution. It has been woven into color fields to

depict the structure of military life and the essence of a soldier. These weavings are then incorporated into a large

three-dimensional quilt, which reflects the idea of the body and the hidden layers of the past. The weaving sometimes

loses its pattern, revealing the underlying damage that is not always visible. Within one of the works, you see a soldier

repairing or mending clothe over and over, and its wound opens back up and is projected into two weavings. Other

works are more substantial, utilizing concrete and wire materials to create a formation reminiscent of an army, evoking

the sense of war and the feeling that leaves a person hollow inside.