The idea of an endling

The Idea of an Endling is a collection of work that is meant to highlight the interconnectedness of the living world and the effect human contact has on ecosystems within that world. My artistic process always begins with a quest for knowledge in which I will spend much of my time collecting research and artifacts in an effort to grasp more information on a subject. After collecting information, I begin to question the impact human culture has had on that subject and what my personal involvement or connection is to the whole.

My graduate work has changed the way I work as an artist and because of that, has also changed the way I teach the artists in my classroom. As a teacher, I believe it is important for students to have time to explore, record, and discuss new information before beginning on their artwork. I have witnessed through exploratory learning that students take more ownership over their work and grow their confidence in making personal artistic choices without the need for teacher reassurance or approval.