The Story Behind Iridescent Hearts

For as long as I can remember, I have loved the creative process. Whether music or art, when combined with my super strength of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), it triggers something so deeply embedded in my brain that I cannot help but focus for hours on end until I have completed a project. This obsession is what led to Iridescent Hearts and the creation of the stories and stained glass mixed media pieces of artwork that tell the story of my life and the women who have inspired me along the way.

Growing up, I struggled with female friendships. I suffered a very personal assault at the tender age of 15 that left me very scarred, insecure and untrusting of anyone or anything. Subsequent interactions resulted in an emotional wall being formed to protect myself from the pain that high school girls can inflict upon one another, particularly when one is already struggling with trauma and emotional pain. The outlet I frequently turned to in order to cope with much of the pain at that time was my guitar and music.

But passion for creative endeavors was not encouraged as a professional path in my family, with my parents instead redirecting me towards college and a more lucrative career. After essentially failing several times over, dropping out of college twice, being “voted out of membership” from an early sorority I never should have rushed and getting myself into multiple abusive relationships, for whatever reason, life began to make sense and fall into place.

I ended up graduating from a small liberal arts college in New Hampshire with a degree in Environmental Science (minor in Biology) with the highest female GPA in the science department. I went on to graduate school at the University of New Hampshire where I ended up with both a Masters and a PhD in Plant Biochemistry and I was awarded a Postdoctoral research position at the University of California at Berkeley, which led to my move across the country to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Over the past two decades, my life has focused on two things, my family and my career. Following the “logical” career path has led me through increasing responsibility roles in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, always in highly science-driven, innovation and commercialization strategy roles. I took a short sabbatical and started a band, checking that off of my bucket list for a short time, but ultimately, re-entered industry and today, am a leader at one of the largest technology companies on the planet, Microsoft. It is somewhat ironic that my technical role with Microsoft led to my obsession with stained glass and this project. I’ll elaborate…

Within Microsoft, we have a program called Perks+ that gives us an annual allowance to spend on activities that enrich our lives and wellness in some way. My second year at Microsoft, I used my Perks+ allowance to take stained glass classes at Feral Studio in Oakland, which led to the realization that I found my art medium. From the first score on the glass, it was so deeply satisfying. I tell people that it is like the feeling of sticking a Q-tip deep in your ear and twisting it gently. That is how I feel when I am working on a piece.

Since that time, I have worked on stained glass every day. I set up a home studio. I taught myself the software program Procreate. I have honed my skills and gotten to know my community. And then, I did the first portrait, a self-portrait, and the rest is herstory, as they say.

Iridescent Hearts is a celebration of finding myself in the creative process. It is a celebration of blossoming into the second half of my life by focusing energy on the activities that make me whole. And it is a celebration of my ability to transcend the trauma of my youth and form deep, lasting friendships and recognize the inspirational women who have graced my life. It is because of the contributions they have made to my life, personally and professionally, that have enabled me to grow into the woman I am today.

What better reason to celebrate?