I am an emerging artist, recently retired from three decades of teaching courses at Temple University that pertain to social justice and the city.

The photos being submitted here are part of a larger body of work where I immersed myself in thinking about American society, the American flag in particular. What does it mean today? To whom does it speak? For whom does it speak? Whose ideals does it hold? These, and larger questions of symbolism, signifiers, semiotics, and representation propelled these works.

These questions are especially salient today as many of the values we have thought to be infallible and codified in stone are not just being questioned but destroyed. The flag as a symbol of sacrifice, virtue, steadfastness, and freedom is under siege. Whose flag, whose country, is it? Is America still America and if so, what does that mean?

My personal interest in image making and art is driven by the many (particularly women) who have embraced art in later years. They (and I) have found meaning, drive, and purpose in exploring ‘the other side’ of the brain. Nell Painter, Howardena Pindell, Carmen Herrara, and of course Grandma Moses come to mind. As they have inspired me, perhaps my journey will be inspirational to others both young and ‘not so young.’  

The drive to create and the desire to say something about American society, democracy at work, and the power of the visual -- collage, photography, graffiti, and public art give me purpose and a sense of fulfillment.