There can be no community without a third space.

My work reminds the audience of the rights we have, as social beings, to accessible and comfortable third spaces. Through woodworking, furniture design, photography, painting, and drawing, I lay out the possibilities for community spaces to audiences and viewers. 

My works uses a variety of textures that are meant to play with the audience’s sense of touch. Touch is a significant sense that is often only experienced by the artist, rarely the viewer. Allowing audiences and viewers to touch the works transforms them into participants. When they participate in the work, they are opening themselves to the opportunity for new connections in the artist space.

My use of gallery spaces will serve as a warning to the on-going extinction of third spaces. Without third spaces, many people lose their right to the opportunity of being a part of or creating a community where we feel comfortable and supported. Third spaces, such as libraries, coffee shops, restaurants, are actively becoming more exclusive or inaccessible. Free, easy to access, and well-advertised community spaces are a right that few people are aware of, and even fewer are fighting for. By using the gallery space as a temporary community space, my goal is to bring the sense of comfort and connection to those who aren’t given that right.