Born in Chicago and then raised in neighboring Evanston, I would say my artistic pathway really began early in life, in an alley, with a marker and a garage door.

I have never felt such a strong captivation towards a visual art form as I did seeing the massive graffiti displayed all along everything that was visible and paintable on the train lines. Riding the L was my favorite art gallery, and as a young person looking for direction, this culture of outlaw artists made sense. I was hooked instantly, and my love affair with spray paint was put in motion.

While the news headlines about graffiti were still asking,“is it art?”, the city was aggressively erasing this culture. I felt a strong sense of urgency to preserve its legacy, so I went to film school and formed the production company Standing Passengers Inc. I went on to make the documentary, I Write on Stuff, telling the story of this graffiti movement from those actively involved in its creation.

I began painting glass windows in 2006, first using handmade acetate cut outs and spray paint. I experimented with different masking tapes and materials and have continued to push my boundaries. I love this process, building the layers of shape and color, reexamining iconic imagery and nostalgic eras, and consistently brightening the faces of those seeing the glossy, framed results.

Being graphically influenced by skateboarding culture since I was a youngster, I have also taken to using blank skate decks as a canvas. I am continually challenging myself to create new avenues and combinations of decks to explore my artistic style and reflection.

For almost two decades, Standing Passengers has gone on to produce another of my feature films, and then eventually expand to include a coffee shop/art gallery in Westtown.