Growing up, both my mother and grandmother would meticulously collect beach glass. My grandmother in her older age sought ways to be artistic and let her creativity out despite her aging body. She would use hot glue and tape to make intricate beach glass art, from flower shaped pins, to coasters and hot plates, my grandmother would do anything she could with the beach glass that her and my mother would find. Years after her passing, my mother continued to collect beach glass. The collection of glass eventually found its way into my hands. I wasn’t sure what my plans for the glass were but I didn’t want to let my mom dispose of the collection in an effort to declutter. This piece was born out of this history. In honor of my artistic ancestry.

My original plans for this piece involved much more beach glass as I aimed for a faux-stain glass look actually on top of the mirror. But once I so intricately laid and glued the mirror mosaic to fit, it was too beautiful to cover. I wanted this piece to be one of my bridges between the delicate traditions of religious art and the sport of basketball. Almost meant to serve as an altar, referencing the love for materiality and and sparkling objects in Catholic Churches. But as I worked, the piece became more. In my eyes, it becomes a portal, the viewer becomes the player tearing the rim down, shattering the hoop. My first truly sculptural art piece and hopefully the first of many hoops.