I hope to be a remarkable conversationalist one day. a) I think every person holds a wealth of knowledge and experience waiting to be shared b) I find many problems can be resolved with meaningful dialogue c) my goal is to get people to question their assumptions and find shared humanity with those they disagree with most so that we can move toward truth and unity.
I like to cook for other people. I find the process of experimenting with recipes creative and meditative. One of the great delights of food is how it brings people together. It’s a cornerstone of how I build community. I have spent two hours peeling carrots and ten hours sourcing plates. I care about the details that maybe two people will see. In the process of throwing a full set of dishware for said gatherings. Thoughtful design, tablescapes, quality of service, and unreasonable hospitality bring me joy.
One of my greatest loves is art. My first memory of creating art was drawing a Crayola marker masterpiece of two butterfly people. Since then, I've graduated to other kinds of media. I’ve experimented with unconventional materials, including gluing moss, drawing on cement, and painting on cloth. Most recently, my practice has focused on ceramics and wheel-throwing. There is a serenity in the revolutions.
Outside my own practice, I love interacting with other artists. My interactions with 200 artists, ranging from second-graders to retirees has shown me that art can be a lifelong love, even if the medium changes.
One of the greatest challenges of our generation will be re-thinking and re-crafting our relationship with the earth. As we tumble toward infinite wisdom, humanity will continue to steward the physical world. This mission has taken me on interesting paths. I’ve spent time identifying methane sinkholes, learning about fusion reactor design and fuel supply chains, researching grid infrastructure, and visiting the Maeslantkering.
My family is the foundation of my being. Our relationship is like a rubber band. All roads lead back to them.
My grandmother raised me. She is a Renaissance woman. Her domains of expertise include farming (squash, corn, watermelon, cucumbers, luffah, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin, eggplant, everything in the cornucopia), picking tea leaves, cross-stitching, cooking, singing, teaching, overpacking suitcases, and being the light of my life.
I would like to call myself an amateur post-communist history enthusiast. I hope to learn the history of the world, one day at a time.
