I sat in art class, shy but social enough. If you sat across the table from me, you'd see a small blur of ugly rusty oranges and browns, a pocket chain, nose ring, and fingers adorned with silver and stones. I'd probably be wearing some vintage earrings that I "borrowed" from my mother's box of jewels just before I was sent away.

I learned that to defend myself was a crime, to reach out for help was too much to ask, and the only safe place I had to go was in my head. In this class I was able to tap into a secret world. This became the place I escaped to, this became my home.

My work is an assortment of self portraits, abstract images, sketches, stories. Each piece carries a message, reveals a chapter of my life, and is another piece to the puzzle that is me.

Enjoy the journey.