Artist Statement
I grew up surrounded by folk art traditions from Slovakia. I particulary admire the richness of the patterns and colors of the textiles and ceramics which reflect the creativity and vitality of the people. This series of paintings explores those patterns and rhythms that permeated the life and traditions of my forefathers and which have active traces in the culture of Slovakia today. While the works emerge from old world traditions, they are contemporary and respond to the basic joys and energy of life in any age.

The old Slovak folk song "Tancuj, Tancuj, Vykrucaj" translated as "Dance, Dance, Keep Turning" was the primary inspiration for many of the paintings. The song conjures up images from my youth, remembering the old Slovak culture. The dancing especially mesmerized me with images of couples, children, Babkas (Grandmas) and Tetkas (Aunties) - all spinning to the ever-increasing pace of the violins and accordians. I, too, had a beautiful kroj (Folk-Costume) worn for these events, and can still remember the sensation of the floating fabrics and ribbons of the costumes - temporarily lightened and suspended in the air by the motion of the dance.

In many of the paintings, I try to capture this sense of whirling motion from an aerial perspective. The colorful costumes take on the illusion of flowers moving in the wind, like dancers moving in and out of formations. The various colors and patterns of the "Kroj" are interpreted in a four season palette - a year circle which also has the sense of rotation and spinning - a perpetual cycle of life.