COLLABORATION

The synergy between individuals can be both magical and elusive. Such was the case with Joan and me, two longtime friends and admirers of each other’s artistic endeavors. We met as young women, mothers, teachers, with a shared ferocity toward making our work.

Our collaboration was not born out of a formal agreement or plan, but rather from a natural flow of respect and admiration. We have an ease between us that allowed me to dive into the work without concern for judgment or reaction. I didn't worry about giving Joan's image 50% of the space, I knew she'd want me to react freely.

Like any creative endeavor, our collaboration had its stumbling blocks. An initial attempt at this project left us uninspired. But timing has played a crucial role in our process. When I opened the box with Joan’s photos in the fall, they beckoned to me at just the right moment. Their size made them ideal for a project in my home studio, which provided a sanctuary when my larger studio felt too cold.

What truly imbued our collaboration with depth and meaning was the history embedded within the imagery. Each photograph held memories, emotions, and stories of its own. Among them, a red goblet stood out – a symbol of friendship and connection, gifted me by Joan. Of course, I upended it.

Joan and I are not just collaborators; we are fellow travelers on a journey through the ever-expanding landscape of art. Our shared history traces back to the era of abstract expressionism, a  movement that defined the cultural milieu into which we were born.

As we grew and matured as artists, we witnessed shifts in the artworld. From the avant-garde pop of Andy Warhol to the boundary pushing works of Rauschenberg, we saw the boundaries of art expand in ways previously unimagined. 

As collaborators, we find ourselves at the intersection of past and present, At the heart of our work lies a shared commitment to capturing the essence of the personal narrative – the moments, emotions, and memories that shape our lives in profound and often unseen ways.