DANIELLE
I have always been an artist and as a child my parents could not keep up with my need for art supplies and enough space to display my never ending steam of creations. In grade and middle school, I aspired to be an architect and took classes in drafting, design, and shop where I had exposure to all kinds of wood working and other building processes. In high school, I attended a visual arts program where I fell in love with photography and was soon showing my work and receiving awards.
I continued in this direction earning my BA from UCSD in Media Production with focus in photography and video production. I worked in Hollywood on films, in television, and on commercial photography projects as a photographer and photo stylist. As my family grew, I shifted my focus and leaned into my 30 plus years of art teaching experience working with students of all ages- toddler to adult, as well as other such projects as directing a community activation gallery for several years, and creating art based community events. My personal creative endeavors broadened from photography to other mediums including metal work and assemblage. I also served as chair for the Community Advisory Committee overseeing Special education at SFUSD. And I work with STAR, the Shipyard Artist Trust.
Currently, I view myself as a conceptual artist and work in many mediums using what ever gets me creatively to the message I am conveying. My resent works include the “Primitive Computer,” a series of mixed media sculptures commenting on our dependence on computers. My “SARS-Covid-19” series of pen and ink drawings shown at the De Young Museum, and my most resent piece, “It’s All Love”.
“It's All Love” is a dialogue between me and my now 83 year old mom with Alzheimers around her meals which I prepare. For me food prep is a daily opportunity to be creative and an act of love. At one of mom’s early meals after cancer she asked me to “take a picture.” She has continued this ritual with all the meals she feels are especially beautiful. In the beginning I felt this would just be a lovely personal record of this time, but it has become a dialogue of love and appreciation. The ritual continues to this day with over 400 images and growing, showing our unique journey.