The Tepe Park Project
The Tepe Park mural is one of the most defining moments in my artistic career and personal life. Spanning the length of a basketball court, it was my first time working on such a large scale, combining vision, precision, and physical stamina in a piece that elevated a neighborhood gathering space into something extraordinary. The recognition was humbling — winning the 25th Annual Leadership Award from PBS and 5/3 Bank, the Art Project of the Year Award from the Arts Council and Mayor Winnecke, and a full-page spread in Evansville Living Magazine that made me a published artist.
But more than the trophies, what made this project memorable were the human connections. Every day on site, I spoke to the young people in the community about potential, creativity, and the importance of chasing their dreams. Those conversations took the project beyond “work” into something more. A shared labor of love that lifted not only the court but the spirits of all involved and they did that for me. This mural is the essence of what I am about: art as a tool to effect change, bring hope and create enduring legacy in the communities therein.
The Goosetown Park “Lava”
This mural was another landmark moment for my art journey—larger in scale than the Tepe Park basketball court, but just as groundbreaking in its own way. In collaboration with Keep Evansville Beautiful (KEB), this work was my first-of-its-kind perspective work in the community: a reimagined concept where an interactive mural was created to be experienced more than observed. Its flowing, lava-like perspective art invited young children and families to enter the piece and explore, igniting a sense of wonder and turning an ordinary park location in to something lively and fun.
It wasn’t the size of a court, but it was heavy with joy and meaningful connection. The responses from the community especially from the young people proved that scale isn’t everything. It taught me the importance of making work that people can physically interface with, wherein viewer and participant become one.
This project, for me, was yet another labor of love- a confirmation that I am right: public art really can transform the everyday into the extraordinary. That might have been one of the smallest murals in town, but it was a spark one that continues to spark imagination within the community.
Milly the Dinosaur
This was a project dear to my heart, developed while I was Artist-in-Residence at the Children’s Museum of Evansville (CMOE). This mural has since become a true community masterwork, unlike anything else I have ever done. I invited every child and parent who came to the museum to help us in its making, to put their hands on the canvas — they all had a chance to literally place their handprints on the artwork at every stage of its completion. The end product was more than a painting; it was a manifestation of collective artistry, identity and happiness.
The reveal was broadcast a celebration on News 14 , and even the museum employees had never before seen the finished product until the public did. That element of surprise and shared pride contributed to an unforgettable experience. What added greatly to the influence of this residency was that I was able to teach children art concepts as I worked with them on the mural, instructing them in real life about the elements of art, creativity, color and imagination. This made for a photo op that allowed patrons to pose with the museums mascot after the statue was moved to the riverfront. For me, Milly the Dinosaur exemplified everything that I want to accomplish as an artist: bring people together, inspire the next generation, and demonstrate how art can be a living, breathing communal experience. It was never just about the final project – it was about the process, engaging in it and having fun making something meaningful together.
Big Time
“Big Time” is a mural created in tribute to a dearly loved brother that was taken from us too soon. Painted on the inside of the music studio, this one was born out of love and loss, in the company of his good brothers as a means of keeping his spirit alive. Every paint stroke is heartfelt, and not an image on a wall, but an enduring testament to friendship, family and heritage that will captivate everyone walking through the doors.
