I find elements of my mountain upbringing as I work across physical and digital mediums. After receiving a disintegrating folder containing half my family’s archive, I began exploring themes of secrets, folklore, shame, and the evolving identity of Appalachia. This archival exploration, fused with my background in technology, led me to see new narratives emerging from what is often overlooked in broader cultural discussions.

Plagued by the constant glow of the computer screen, I turned to non-digital methods such as cyanotypes.Thinking about what documents and photos were valued enough to make it into the remnants of my family’s folder, I’m interested in how archives play a part in “rediscovery” versus a “new discovery” and how they serve as a social and political force.

My current research centers on Appalachian Sci-Fi, which reimagines regional rural histories and emerging technologies. In defining the parameters of Sci-Fi Appalachia for art making, I seek to challenge the reductive stories that have historically shaped the region’s identity, emphasizing the importance of envisioning alternative, fantastical worlds. How do we pull from the archives to frame a new future? With people in power planting themselves as Appalachian representatives, shifting that narrative is more urgent than ever.