Weenies at the Water Park

Childhood Summer Series 2022

My work has always felt a little childlike and I’ve chosen to carry out that theme through a series of “loud” pieces with “forbidden” mediums that are tactile and messy. My intention for this series is that there will be a sense of levity and comedy in it. This one makes me laugh for personal reasons that might not be obvious to the audience.

I grew up a chubby kid. Oklahoma was miserably humid in the summer and our waterpark left much to be desired. I remember one trip specifically—being enthused about a hot dog snack in my soured, ill-fitting, polka dot bathing suit; right beside a lukewarm pool filled with ALL KINDS of bodies. It was hilarious, it was nauseating, but it was also whimsical and enchanting. Those are the memories I want to capture through the use of color, shape, texture and garish design.