Alchemist of Memory

2015

Watercolor, Ink, Acrylic, and Balsa Wood on Clear Acrylic

Permanent Collection of Nationstar Mortgaging Company, Dallas, TX

The title of this work, Alchemist of Memory, is what I consider to be the definition of nostalgia.  Silver and golden roads and homes from the past shimmer forth in my memory, transforming those experiences into treasure.  When these memory maps are layered in paint, a translucency is allowed that mimics the passing of time through locations.  Similar to memory, certain areas are clear while others hazy; Moments and people from the past are either prominent or fade away.  Aerial views of important neighborhoods and other locations are preserved, while images deep in the watercolor are less easy to decipher.  This process illustrates how events from long ago, though hard to remember, still live in the subconscious and contribute to identity.