I am an African American artist, Thalassophile, and global art educator whose work is deeply inspired by my passion for the oceans and seas of the world. My connection to the ocean has been shaped by personal experience, including sailing across the Atlantic Ocean and witnessing the extraordinary diversity of marine life that inhabits our planet. Encountering these magnificent waters and the many species that call them home has deepened my respect for the ocean’s beauty, mystery, power, and fragility. These experiences continue to inspire my artistic journey and strengthen my commitment to celebrating the natural world through art.

 

My art reflects a lifetime of experiences, discoveries, and passions, weaving together influences from the oceans, Native American traditions, and Celtic heritage. Through my work, I seek to express the interconnectedness of all living things and our shared responsibility to honor and protect the world around us. My art installations celebrate collaboration, bringing together diverse artists, perspectives, and creative expressions to form unified works that speak to the beauty of connection and community.

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My artistic philosophy is also deeply rooted in my ancestry and family history. I come from a family of patchwork quilt makers, the Jaco family of Salisbury, Missouri, USA. In 1990, my great-aunt Edna entrusted me with treasured family heirloom quilts and a collection of patchwork squares, each more than 100 years old. In sharing these precious pieces of our family history, she challenged me to carry on the Jaco tradition. That moment became a defining influence on my life and art. Inspired by the tradition of joining individual pieces of fabric to create something greater than the sum of its parts, I have embraced the concept of patchwork as both an artistic practice and a way of life. I carry this philosophy into my artwork, educational work, and collaborative installations, bringing together individual voices and creative contributions to create something meaningful and lasting.

 

Whether inspired by the vastness of the ocean, power and forms of the waves or the remarkable life beneath the waves, or the legacy of my ancestors, my work reflects a lifelong journey of exploration, connection, and discovery. Through my art, I strive to unite people, celebrate our relationship with the natural world, and honor the enduring power of creativity, heritage, and collaboration.