Artist Statement

Intangible Inheritance is about the transfer of values and personality traits from one generation to the next. I am fascinated by families and how parent’s values, traits and behavior patterns mingle with children’s inherent strengths and weaknesses to create chains of functionality and dysfunction. Eyes are the focus because children learn primarily through example. The project began with my own children and contemplating the positive and negative qualities they might inherit from me. When I expanded it to children of my friends, I asked parents to choose one trait they want to pass on to their child, and one they hope they do not. Their responses are reflected in the eyes of their child.