Depictions of heaven and hell were ubiquitous in my parochial school education, and subsequent Art History classes and countless visits to museums, cathedrals and churches reinforced the doctrines and didactic imagery that formed my impression of the afterlife. My own beliefs have evolved beyond my early religious indoctrination, but the imagined euphoria of heaven and torments of hell remain indelibly lodged in my psyche. Here and Hereafter, a series of mixed media works, is part of the memento mori tradition dating back to Socrates, early Christianity, and the Netherland’s 17th century still-life vanitas paintings meant to remind us of our mortality.
 
The paintings are divided into three realms: heaven, earth, and hell. They include oil and acrylic paint, metallic paper mounted to canvas, collage, found hand-crafted textiles, and fabric. I often use fabric and textiles in my work as they are reminiscent of domesticity and security, and collage elements that include familiar photographic imagery.  In Here and Hereafter, the textiles and collage counter the mystery of the unknown. The works on paper are depictions of heaven above earth. 

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