The surge in tornado activity across the United States, reaching as far east as Massachusetts, has deeply affected me. As a native of Kansas, where tornadoes are a part of life, I feel a profound sense of loss as these natural disasters seem to encroach further into regions where they were once rare. It's as if something deeply personal to me is being eroded by the forces of climate change, threatening to wash away my cherished experiences and memories.

This sentiment inspired the title of one of my artworks, "What I Thought Was Once Mine is Now Ours", which delves into these feelings of loss and collective vulnerability. Through intricate drawings and imposing fabric sculptures, I aim to capture the duality of tornadoes: their destructive force and their mesmerizing beauty, while also exploring the emotional impact of tornadoes on both individuals and communities.

In "As I Slept You Carried Me", I revisit a haunting memory from my childhood: waking up to the news of a tornado tearing through our town while I was blissfully unaware, lost in sleep. These artworks serve as visual interpretations of my recollections, capturing the awe-inspiring yet terrifying essence of tornadoes through the eyes of a young child. Even now, I perceive them as forces of nature both magical and surreal, transcending the bounds of reality.