Quiet Hours

Cultural background, gender and religion are the guiding forces in my artwork. It is these elements of my identity that I am projecting with my work. Traditional motifs of the Polish folk art, wycinanki (paper cutting), are used in conjunction with the bright flat colors and bold lines of pop artists, combining an older European form of art with one that is distinctly American.

Gender plays a role in the pieces, as well. Being aware of myself as a female artist, I feel it is important to address problems and issues unique to women, while, at the same time, retaining the integrity of the female figure or attitude. The poses of the female forms become introspective to emphasize their meditative quality.

Religion is the final intertwining element in my work. I feel that I am reconciling my Roman Catholic upbringing with the teachings of Buddhism, in particular Western Buddhism, which is a movement that strives to do the same. Juxtaposing the images of the Virgin Mary and Kuan Yin allows one to see the similarities

between East and West.