Anthropology & Art

I was born in 1983, to artist parents. I had an unusual education, being independently motivated and allowed to pursue self-guided studies following my own interests and passions. My curiosities lead me to art, literature, theater, religion, and especially history, of cultures from around the world. This ultimately led to my interests in social interactions. There I found my calling and true passions; Anthropology, Art, Gaming, and Play Theory.
I served in the US Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom. My time in the Military helped to expand my experiences and broaden my horizons. My time in Iraq, and living in various parts of the US, enlivened my curiosity about the way people in other cultures employ and engage everyday customs and interactions. When I returned home, my time in the military and the Middle East inspired me to study Cultural Anthropology. But I never stopped dreaming of art and creating it whenever I could.
Early on I discovered I enjoyed the aesthetics of fire and metal. I taught myself the basics of blacksmithing; an ongoing self-guided process, which has expanded into jewelry. My parents heavily influenced and encouraged me. I was exposed to and taught woodworking and sculpting by my father - an accomplished sculptor. My mother - a freelance illustrator and graphic artist - taught me the - when I was a kid, at the time - fledgling skills of computer aided graphic design and publishing. My philomathy, or love of learning, drove me headlong into a multitude of artistic and creative mediums. The theater and the art of storytelling inspired my exploration of body language, costuming, and performance art. Creating an interactive narrative and book arts motivated me to explore graphic novels, comic books, video games, and board and card games. All the while anthropology and history fueled my creativity and formed a base line, and jumping off point for my work.
Despite the abundance of online and electronic gaming, I prefer mediums and situations that can be touched, smelled, and physically interacted with. I firmly believe that face to face human interaction will never become obsolete or go out of style.
“There is just something magical about seeing someone’s’ face as they win or are crushed while playing a game they have been really drawn into.”
I consider this blog to be my curation of an online interactive museum and art gallery. I hope you enjoy it.