Sources and Influences: The blend of inspirations that have impacted my life and made it whole.

I attended Saint Catherine’s from kindergarten through 12th grade. The school values visual and performing arts so it was not uncommon that I enrolled in three art classes each year of high school. Sculpture with Angelo opened my eyes to the art world. He taught me to appreciate art—to look at it and deconstruct the signifiers; to find inspiration in my life to create my own work. I spent weekends at the Metropolitan and gallery hopping in Chelsea; my desire to look was insatiable. At College, I double majored in studio art. Now, I am a member of the Feminist Art Council at the Brooklyn Museum.

My first time down a ski slope was on my father’s back. Shortly after I took my first steps and then was promptly put on my own skis. On the slope, my father told me the only way to improve was through the three Ps—practice, practice, practice. Today, whether I’m having trouble finding a solution to a problem at work or on the last leg of a bike ride, I remind myself of the three Ps and continue to forge ahead knowing that with continued commitment I will succeed.

I was born and raised in Brooklyn,NY. With its 2.5 million people, my home town is one of the most diverse in the nation. Growing up with people of nearly every race, religion, and creed taught me not just to be tolerant of others but to embrace differences and appreciate the value of varied experiences. What started as an appreciation grew into a yearning to learn about different people and places. Now, I take every opportunity I have to leave Brooklyn. I have traveled to 23 countries in order to discover the differences and recognize the similarities firsthand.

We ate dinner together as a family every night when I was growing up; food has always extended beyond a source of nourishment. Now, cooking is my greatest outlet for creativity and where I put my father’s lesson to work, retrying a bread recipe until the dough properly rises. And, it is over shared meals that my family has embraced difference and welcomed my partner into their lives.