The title of this body of work is called “you don’t bring me flowers anymore". It surrounds a personal narrative about a recent period of my life when my father was incarcerated. His true nature has always been to give gifts, and he had a fondness for flowers, especially as a symbol of affection. As a child, I recall countless bouquets that he would present to my mother. Later in life she joked that he was usually bringing them on his way home from somewhere he should not have been, as an offering or bargaining chip for absolving destructive behavior.

Dealing with the drug addiction and incarceration of a parent has been one of the most difficult challenges of my life. Making this body of work helped me to focus on being in the most giving place possible during a time of real suffering and sorrow. The images themselves are the dimensions of notebook paper and envelopes. The silhouetted empty flower forms represent all of the lost time and wishes for rehabilitation and compassion that I wanted to send my father. Using images of writing from his letters, our only form of communication, I represent a dialog that attempts to move our relationship into peace.