I am deeply interested in the tension between natural environments and artificially created environments, and the way the artificial can easily overtake the “natural”.  In Hawaii, where I am from, nature is integrated into our lifestyle.  Growing up, I was surrounded by tropical plants and many types of vegetation.  However, I have also been exposed to the tourist-driven, high-consumer society that partially defines the Hawaiian Islands.  A fundamental element of the Island culture is the flower lei. This is just one of the many Hawaiian cultural indicators that has helped influence my interest of flowers and nature.  Hawaii has seen many transitions from the natural to the artificial. For example, the way the tourism industry churns out endless souvenirs based on the natural ecosystem, but represent an artificial imitation of nature.  

I look to explore the struggle between organic and inorganic and the imitation of natural material with artificial material through my large scale paper-based installations and sculptures.  Mass-produced or artificial materials, such as glitter and weed wacking wire juxtaposed against handmade paper flowers and plants help me to convey the tension that exists between nature and its artificial representation by reproducing nature artificially.