The Artist

My Story

Most of us suffered some degree of burnout during the pandemic, but for those of us in healthcare, COVID-19 was particularly trying. Some people gardened; others baked. I began doing resin art, sometimes at 3:00am after a late shift. Creating art, in the media of resin specifically, was extremely therapeutic. The scientific nature of the mixing process appealed to me, being the foundation of the movement and composition of colors I could create. Resin is a temperamental mistress, but after much practice, I was able to refine my techniques to bring my creative vision to life.

The definition of art is subjective. For me, it represents the things that move you, that make you feel connected to something greater than yourself. It inspires you and stirs your soul, even when you don't understand why. My walls were already covered with colorful art that brought me joy; I wanted to make things that were functional, but still made you feel a sense of joy to see them. In 2022, I moved from Florida to New York, working part-time in the emergency department and spending the remainder of my time writing and creating. In 2023, I started Quantum Sunshine with this idea: the attempt to capture the microscopic bits of joy around us and inside us in the form of tangible objects. As much as I tried to create similar things, to build up an "inventory" of stock, I couldn't; each piece meant something to me individually. 

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I have since embraced the tendency of slowly creating unique pieces that speak to me. My grandmother passed in January of 2023, and when she did, I inherited several old books. Many of them were falling apart. but I couldn't bear to part with them. Reading some of the poetry and prose in the disconnected pages, some of the words seemed to speak to me. I began using fragments of them (later sourcing old magazines and texts bound for the discard pile) to bring my work and meaning to life. Pondering the quantum nature of our universe, I began to develop an interest in light microscopy. These images, in addition to my personal photography, became a major part of my creative process. Transitioning to an ER in New York City from a college town in Gainesville made me re-evaluate my place in a STEM field as a woman with Afro-Caribbean roots. Turns out, I was finally living in a place with sufficient diversity that I could feel accepted as a Black female physician. My cultural identity, career, and my inner identity as a neurodivergent individual with ADHD all serve to inform my work. 

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I hope to share some of that work with you-- work that offers both a glimpse of science and a glimmer of joy.