Mt Rushmore, oil, 30x42", unframed, 2005

In Mt. Rushmore, I bring together two versions of myself in a moment of quiet exchange beneath one of America's most iconic monuments. One figure presents a camera while the other responds with uncertainty, transforming an ordinary travel gesture into a conversation about memory, identity, and how we choose to preserve our experiences.

Part of my Self-Portrait Explorations series, this painting reflects on the relationship between personal history and cultural history. The monumental faces carved into the mountain become a backdrop for a more intimate question: What do we choose to remember, and what ultimately shapes the stories we tell about ourselves?