Artist’s Statement on the work

Woodside Heights Art Museum (WHAM!) asked artists to propose a show celebrating the neighborhood of Woodside Heights, Queens. What could I, a resident of Brooklyn, have to say about Woodside Heights?

In addition to being a cut paper artist, I work part-time drawing portraits at events around NYC. I’ve learned that people like being seen by a stranger. My boss always says that it’s harder to draw someone you know. Fresh eyes can sometimes get to the essence of something.

I decided to combine drawing portraits and making paper cut outs. I would draw people directly on the black paper I use to make cut-outs, and hopefully reflect something back to the people I drew that would let them see themselves in a new or pleasantly familiar way.

With help from Micki and Harley from WHAM! and from the proprietors of La Flor restaurant, who graciously let us set up outside (and even fed us), I spent Sunday, August 15th, drawing some of the residents of Woodside Heights. Over the next few weeks I cut the portraits out at my kitchen table in Brooklyn.

Thank you to everyone who sat for a portrait:

Ziyad, Tania, Matt, Micki, Harley, Zara, Viko, Benito, Jhonaton, Amparo, Noah, Chris, Manuel, Jean Franco, Leiker. Shawn & Angus, Mary, Katherine, Sean, Claire, Lenny, Dorjee, Fred, Hiro, LaDonna & Ara, Jeferson, Jayden, Nicolas, Jigme, Christina, and Odette.

My hope is that I can be a mirror, reflecting fragments of your neighborhood, celebrating the beauty of you and your friends and neighbors.

WHAM! suggests you come see these portraits in person as these screen images do not do the beautiful spaces created with cut paper justice. The work will be up 24/7 in the windows so come check it out!