the story behind the paintings: "the 1854 Collection" & "the jewel box"

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This antique textile stamp from the early 1800's inspired my entire collection. I found it at a flea market before going into a routine joint replacement surgery. While recuperating, I went down the rabbit hole of research and studies as I looked into the history of ancient symbols and motifs.  From Egypt and Greece to China, India and Africa ... it all inspired me to create this idea. Textile stamping started in China in the 7th century with other countries following a few centuries later. 

I looked at Verdura jewelry, old Chanel brooches and jewelry designed by the famed David Webb.  A common theme is the Maltese Cross. Then I found variations of the Maltese Cross on shields of fireman and police signifying something important on each point of the star.  We also see ancient motifs in old Louis Vuitton steamer trunks,  fabric aligning with both modern and traditional interiors, ceramics, antique pottery from Italy. The list goes on forever. 

I noticed grids from my own doodles and drawings. So I rediscovered grids other artists adapted.  Piet Mondrian and his primary colors mixed with black, Damien Hirst and his perfectly executed polka dot grids. In everyday life I saw the grid from an airplane as an aerial view of farmland, the city streets of  Manhattan, the iron grid in a modern window pane, the grids of my father's engineering drafts, the bricks on a Georgian home, the grids of a beautiful building in New York City. 

I mixed the order of a grid with the chaos of the shapes within the grid. Some of those windows represent things I love.  Bright colors, a butterfly, a Maltese cross, a Chanel Brooch, an Egyptian motif used in Italian tiles, an Indian motif used in fabrics. On most of these pieces in this collection I've painted neutral backgrounds with texture against various shapes full of color and interest.  That polarity between the neutrals and brights makes the vibrant hues pop against the soft, colorless backgrounds. Within those windows are an homage to things I admire for symbolism, beauty and craftsmanship.  Sometimes it's just layered chaotic scribbles, a poem in French, a recipe from my mom in my own handwriting.  

And you will always find a butterfly in every piece of this collection. A caterpillar has to change every cell in its body while in the chrysalis to become a butterfly. I too have been through a metamorphosis.   This collection is very personal to me. The butterfly is my own symbol of the beauty in my life from the bruises in my life. 

Now I share this beauty in the creation of this collection.

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