Artistic Statement |
A Bit about Me I grew up on a small farm in Perry, Illinois. I never imagined that theatre would be the center of my life while driving tractors with my father at the age of nine. It wasn't until my father passed at 13, and my mother decided to move us to a larger town, that I found writing, music, and theatre as a creative outlet for not only the loss of my father, but other struggles as well. The journey to finding myself as an artist began before high school when I was included in a high school production as a middle schooler. However, it truly blossomed throughout high school and college when I was given opportunities to explore my talents. After high school I started at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois as a Pre-Med major, but soon realized that was not my passion. After two short years there I knew that in order to push forward in achieving my goals and make my dreams a reality I need to be near more professional theatre. I transferred to Saint Louis University for a wider range of opportunities and the chance to experience a big city that could entertain the expanse of my whimsy. I am currently earning a Bachelors of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Directing and Design. In my free time I explore photography. The pictures featured on this website were taken by me, unless otherwise noted.
|
I grew up on a small farm outside of a town with less than 500 residents. I was notably different than my peers, missing athletic ability, the interest in sports, an overly masculine personality, and the contentment of staying in that same town the rest of my life. The first time I truly felt welcome was my 7th grade year when I was asked to be in a high school Christmas play being produced for area grade schools. For the first time I not only found friendship, but also an environment I was welcome in, enjoyed, and appreciated for the person I was. It was performing as one of Santa’s elves that I found my way into Theatre and theatre gave me a home.
As I have progressed from high school productions to community theatre to the time consuming world of college theatre, I have been able to develop not only my love for theatre, but what I believe to be my passion. Theatre has the ability to destroy governments, stir people to revolution, change the perceptions of a generation. It can inspire a single person, bring an audience to tears, laughter, or uproot ever notion they had of reality; it is one of the most powerful weapons that a society can possess. Yet often times it is pushed to the side, forgotten, banned, or censored. Pursuing a career as a Director, and possibly designer, I want to not only make a thing, a piece, a work that is beautiful, but one that can affect people. My goal is to spread awareness of the power and beauty that theatre possesses. While I realize that I can not impact the world, I do believe a flame can be lit in one person, who can light a fire in many. As I move forward in my career and experience the many forms of theatre this belief grows even stronger.
When directing and designing I push to reflect the circumstances that we often ignore around us. Attempting to approach them cautiously or head on, in a different perspective, or by using other medias of art. As humans we are don't see in just black and white, nor do we only see. We hear, we smell, we feel, we experience, and we relate. Often times what we chose to ignore, or often miss, are the moments that impact our lives the most. The moments we can truly relate too. The idea that a work is only beautiful or meaningful if it pleases the mass majority is not one I live by. Every human encounters unique struggles that influence their own ideas of a pleasing aesthetic. Every time period has had different ideas of what words and statuses hold meaning. If we, as artists, choose to ignore that and follow the norm we would never create a work that is truly powerful. I want to be able to reach out to the audience. I want to create that work. I want to relate.
As I have progressed from high school productions to community theatre to the time consuming world of college theatre, I have been able to develop not only my love for theatre, but what I believe to be my passion. Theatre has the ability to destroy governments, stir people to revolution, change the perceptions of a generation. It can inspire a single person, bring an audience to tears, laughter, or uproot ever notion they had of reality; it is one of the most powerful weapons that a society can possess. Yet often times it is pushed to the side, forgotten, banned, or censored. Pursuing a career as a Director, and possibly designer, I want to not only make a thing, a piece, a work that is beautiful, but one that can affect people. My goal is to spread awareness of the power and beauty that theatre possesses. While I realize that I can not impact the world, I do believe a flame can be lit in one person, who can light a fire in many. As I move forward in my career and experience the many forms of theatre this belief grows even stronger.
When directing and designing I push to reflect the circumstances that we often ignore around us. Attempting to approach them cautiously or head on, in a different perspective, or by using other medias of art. As humans we are don't see in just black and white, nor do we only see. We hear, we smell, we feel, we experience, and we relate. Often times what we chose to ignore, or often miss, are the moments that impact our lives the most. The moments we can truly relate too. The idea that a work is only beautiful or meaningful if it pleases the mass majority is not one I live by. Every human encounters unique struggles that influence their own ideas of a pleasing aesthetic. Every time period has had different ideas of what words and statuses hold meaning. If we, as artists, choose to ignore that and follow the norm we would never create a work that is truly powerful. I want to be able to reach out to the audience. I want to create that work. I want to relate.