As I was reflecting on older work, I came across a series of indigo commissions for the Alida Hotel in Savannah, GA. I haven’t been as drawn to blue lately, but I always loved how these three played off of each other.
My indigo pieces are about capturing a very literal flow on paper and constructing a new world from those scenes. Originally inspired by my grandmother’s Alzheimer’s and capturing her own mental space, I found myself creating a series that allowed myself and others to tap into subconscious landscapes and states. All three of these works take me to a specific place that I have not visited in person, but find myself slipping into during meditation.
In 2018, I had started working out of a new studio in East LA where I squeezed out every ounce of studio time I could while balancing 4-5 jobs and commuting across the city. When I was asked to create a commission for the Alida Hotel, I found myself diving more deeply into my indigo process and finding my state of flow amidst the craziness of my schedule. The pieces brought me back to center during a time when I had drifted from my practice.
I did several iterations before capturing the right places and feeling. My indigos always start out that way - a bit of an exploration and then trial and error to piece together the ultimate “place”. As soon as I found the place, I pieced it together using gold embroidery thread to mimic the art of kintsugi and fill the cracks with gold. The whole process feels intuitive and tranquil, which is a sharp contrast to how I approach my other work. It is nice to look back at these pieces, remember the stories behind them and see how I can take that mindset into my current series.
You can see all of my work from 2018 (click here) and my on-and-off obsession with indigo blue.
Alida Hotel Dining Room Installation