One of the most indelible experiences I've had was the first time I went snorkeling. To see that there was an entire, infinite world of vibrant, beautiful creatures living directly under the surface of what appears to be endlessly uninhabited from above was to realize how much of this life we think we understand - and how little we actually do. As is so often the case with work I create, the subconscious significance shows up where least expected, and most often in hindsight.

This show began as the result of a love for all things Mid-Century Kitsch and my perpetually increasing need to use a variety of media - the more mixed, the better. Creating mosaics with delicate elements such as paper, fabric, beading, and embroidery can be a challenge to keep protected over time. As I pondered this, a friend's coveted collection of 1950's sea horses came to mind. They were made in molds and the bits of shell and glitter randomly distributed, but the resin has kept these tender objects suspended in time for about 70 years at this point. Mosaics within mosaics became the goal. I had a solution and I had an inspiration.

After carving a few test fish and a large puzzle of a seahorse out of clay, the unintended theme ran away with itself (or more accurately, swam!).