Linoleum carving, photo etching and collage

“Witness” is a series I created during an artist residency at Centrum in Port Townsend, WA. In my own development as an artist, this was a time of major breakthroughs — both from a technical and aesthetic point of view.

In addition to my art supplies, I packed a copy of “PhotoShop for Dummies” and feverishly taught myself the basics of the program. A visit to the local library propelled me into a surprisingly large World War II section. Armed with a dozen books, I returned to my studio where I buried myself in a history I was only too familiar with — both my Armenian and Swiss families had been gravely impacted by the war — and emerged consumed with overwhelming feelings that needed expression and infused the works.

The stories and photos in the library books had for consequences a temporary loss of my ability to see the good in the world. I had lost myself. Almost without realizing it, I harnessed the energy of discouragement and despair into making this print. Everything in me was screaming to be expressed.