During my first semester in the program, I studied the relationship between art, science, culture, and global health. Seeking to understand how our society can overcome barriers to environmental justice, I researched the prejudices of the biological sciences as an institution, and studied how oppressed groups are represented in avant-garde and contemporary art.

Finding parallels between the representation of women and the environment, I chose one example to focus more heavily on: Medusa. I studied her origins as the Archaic Gorgon and traced her evolution through time, also learning about her counterparts in various cultures. In addition, I explored ancient depictions of snakes, their demonization, and their long relationship with female energy. In pursuit of discovering more amazing abilities of the natural world, I also studied fungi, plant biology, and bioluminescence. In my studio practice, I emphasize the beautiful, significant, and sometimes even life-saving qualities of organisms which are often underappreciated.