T’Alyne has a master’s degree in printmaking and foundry from Arizona State University. She worked in France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Germany for four years developing her understanding of color and environmental issues. Currently living in Michigan she is interested in highlighting the greatest treasure the state possesses; its fresh water. T’Alyne’s influences include: Rothko, Diebenkorn, Laura Owens, Milton Avery, and the French surrealists. Recent projects include: an exhibition at the South Bend Museum of Contemporary Art, Indiana; a fellowship to the Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont; a Visiting Artist appointment at the Webb School, Knoxville, Tennessee; and an exhibition at the Waterstreet Gallery, Douglas, Michigan.
My work focuses on the importance of mark making and how this establishes relationships and bridges between our understanding of the environment and self. I use water-based varnish and powdered pigments on fiberglass paper and wood panels to capture the temperament of my surroundings and reflect my ever-changing environment. Flickering between two-dimensional and three-dimensional experiences my work addresses the conceptual spirit of water. Living in Michigan surrounded by fresh water I continually observe and am fascinated by its constantly changing form while it trickles, seeps, and flows. I discover patterns when it freezes. I am spellbound when it floats in the air. Water is capable of great power and destruction. It is beautiful as it filters, reflects, refracts, and interacts with light. It represents a precise process, an exchange of energy that has its own natural timing and organization.
Water is a precious resource that we need to protect. Environmental awareness and protecting our natural resources are crucial if we are to survive. As a cultural we are too busy to notice the delicacy of this complete system of life. Through my work as an artist, I view my work as a means to highlight these subtle spaces that filter and support water. It is crucial that we attend to the beauty, tranquility, and serenity in order to return to the center of balance. When we take care of our water we directly impact ourselves.