(American Dream)
The American Dream series, begun in 2017, is a research-driven exploration of personal and national history through the lens of visual art. Drawing from twentieth-century family photographs, the series reconstructs moments that reflect both intimate memory and broader historical themes. These works are the result of a unique intergenerational collaboration, incorporating images provided by my mother and grandmother within enhanced and imagined environments. As an artist, family photo albums were the first compositions of my visual life.
Each piece merges digital imaging with traditional painting techniques—oil on panel and paper, and water-based media on rag paper—to create environments that evoke the emotional and historical resonance of the original photographs. The process often involves extensive historical research to identify individuals, locations, and events, grounding the work in documented reality while allowing space for artistic interpretation. The reconstructed images depict the immaculate moment of the artist's imagination.
A key image in the series features my grandmother, Antoinette Pearl Baker, meeting WWI flying aces Eddie Rickenbacker and Bert Acosta at Bowman Field in Louisville, Kentucky, in August 1920. This photograph, inscribed with details of a pioneering airmail flight, serves as a catalyst for the series and exemplifies its thematic focus: the convergence of personal experience and national history.
The American Dream series invites viewers to reflect on the ways in which memory, identity, and historical documentation shape our understanding of the past. The series offers a visual dialogue that bridges generations, disciplines, and perspectives—encouraging contemplation of the American experience through both personal and collective lenses.
