Just days before the age of 25, I was diagnosed with the sleep/wake disorder narcolepsy in which the hyprocretin/orexin cells deep inside the hypothalamus of my brain that regulate sleep + wakefulness have been destroyed or are simply lacking. This results in REM (or dream) sleep intruding into my wakefulness which produces very vivid dreams (hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations) that I can recall. I believe this 'disorder' fuels much of my creativity + therefore, in a very unique way, can be seen as a gift.

The scientific importance of narcolepsy is that it is a sleep disorder the blurs the line between sleep + wakefulness caused by malfunctions in the primary brain mechanisms that induce normal sleep. Therefore, understanding how it works will inevitably help us understand how sleep works for all of us. It may sound strange, but I am honored that upon death, my brain will be donated to the Stanford University Center for Narcolepsy for research + study to help others.

To learn more about other creatives living with narcolepsy + to be introduced to their work, visit www.narcolepsyart.org. To learn more about what narcolepsy is + to find others living with the condition, visit www.narcolepsynetwork.org.

My artwork is often born in those moments I spend in an undetermined yet familiar place somewhere between dreams + the reality of wakefulness. Being a visual artist, I consider my true artwork to be conceptual and experimental, mainly using mixed media. For instance, I created a pillow of nails with a poem that spoke of the yin and yang of being asleep and awake. Because I have narcolepsy,  much of my work revolves around the theme of sleep and dreams. In addition, I make pendant necklaces, art blocks, and other more crafty things but always with a definite artful slant. My ideas seem endless. Well, most of the time. I still have bad days too... just like anyone else.

My inspiration comes from other artists, other artwork; especially conceptual work as found with the Fluxus and Surrealist movements.  I have a great admiration of Andy Warhol and how he brought so many people together to create so called ‘art’ - the idea that art can be literally anything, anywhere. And l love to collaborate with other artists. That seems to be when the magic happens just a little more freely than when left alone to figure it all out without the input of another creative mind. One must be careful not to start second guessing themselves to much. That can lead to stagnation or a block in the creative process which can be a very painful situation for a working artist.

Make art or die. This I truly believe. I must make things whether you would call them art or not. Without art, I would wither into nothingness.