Artist Statement

The water + microplastics series reflects on the pervasive presence of microplastic pollution. It began with a disquieting experience in the Berkeley Hills during the pandemic, when the artist witnessed visitors tossing plastic containers and bottles down a hillside even as they admired the sunset.

Each work begins with a toner-based print of a travel photograph of natural beauty transferred onto aluminum with gel medium, imparting a subtly distressed character and sheen to the image. The image plate is then sealed beneath layers of resin infused with pulverized plastic waste collected from the Berkeley Hills. From a distance, the plastic particles sparkle; up close, the unsettling source of the glitter is revealed.

The series captures a stark contradiction: humanity’s ability to revere nature while casually contributing to ecological degradation, confronting viewers with their place in this paradox.