1. What has been your favorite course of study in or out of school? Why?

My favorite course of study has been ceramics, the hand building class I had last semester in particular. I’ve always been interested in the arts and have always been passionate about it. This ceramics class introduced me to a medium that I had never used before that I fell in love with more than anything else I have created with.

2. How many pages was the longest paper you have written? Did it include endnotes and bibliography?

Ten pages long, and it did include endnotes and a bibliography.

3. Which was your favorite paper? Please tell us about the topic in a couple of sentences.

Senior year in high school I wrote a short narrative about memories I had of my mother. It was a short autobiographical piece that described a musician that has been played in my household my entire life, and specific memories I have of growing up with his music.

4. Is there a particular kind of writing you love to do?

I love to do descriptive writing, I feels especially in tuned with my senses and the way in which I interact with the world, and enjoy putting that into words.

5. Which books have you read lately: art, fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, poetry, environmental, film? Any comments are welcome.

The most recent books I have read are The Road, Middlesex, and The Stranger.

6. Which artist or writer really impresses you? Why?

I’m especially impressed with Egon Schiele. I find his interpretations of portraits and figures especially fascinating in the way they convey an emotional rawness through the texture and style of his work. I am also impressed by his self portraits, and the many different styles he portrays himself in.

7. What is your main interest besides writing, art, music, (i.e., the humanities)?

I love to cook and bake, especially for friends.

8. Please describe briefly an article in a newspaper or a magazine that got you thinking lately.

I recently read an article about an orangutan that had developed a smoking habit from observing people smoking in the zoo. I found this interesting because it reflects human and animal nature to imitate and react with what occurs around us.

9. Which recent cultural event has really impressed you? This can be a museum, a concert, or anything like that, but also a sports game (if you consider this a cultural event, for which there are good reasons).

I recently went to the Denver Art Museum with Kim Dickey for my ceramics class, and the marvelous mud exhibit was especially impressive and inspiring. It was also really interesting to be given a tour by one of the featured artists.

10. Is there another, non-cultural event that has affected you deeply.

Recovery from illness, my step mother’s stroke in particular.

11. Please share with us a thought or an idea that really widened your intellectual horizon. If possible, give a source for this idea so that those who are interested know where to go.

The study and art in food has recently introduced me to a new way of thinking about art and it’s appeal to the senses, and what in fact defines art.