Basaltic, 2023

An homage to the so-called Lunar Seas, which we now know to be basaltic plains on the moon, these paintings incorporate Pacific Ocean saltwater and sand with acrylic paint. The early Jesuit astronomers thought the dark spots on the moon were oceans, which is why they have names such as “Mare Vaporum” - “Sea of Vapors.” Each one has a distinct character that we understand now through astronomical science, with the added intrigue of a Latin moniker. The materiality of the earth’s ocean in each composition creates a physical texture that echoes what I imagine the lunar surface might feel like. It also introduces a new element of chance into my process-based approach, because the uneven surface picks up color unpredictably during the imprinting stage. In that way, I am collaborating with the ocean as I paint, just as I do in my plunge ritual every other day at Ocean Beach, San Francisco. Ultimately, my intention is to symbolically bridge our scientific understanding with the mystical influence that lunar rhythms have.