Bombs Bursting
2026
Handmade paper made from abaca and kozo fibers, collagraphs, carved linoleum prints, etchings, monoprints, and collage are embedded with threads and shards of printed paper, burned and stitched together. The panels measure approximately nine feet long and one foot wide.
The title is drawn from the familiar words of “The Star-Spangled Banner” “And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air.” Written by Francis Scott Key in 1814, these lyrics commemorate a moment of war that became a symbol of national endurance. Yet for many of us, the imagery of rockets and exploding bombs evokes something far different—a relentless cycle of violence that has echoed throughout our lifetimes.
This work examines the tension between patriotic memory and the human cost of conflict. Burned surfaces, torn fragments, and stitched seams suggest landscapes and communities scarred by destruction, yet held together through resilience and repair. The embedded threads function as both sutures and connections, binding together remnants of what has been damaged or lost.
The elongated panels unfold like a visual narrative, tracing the impact of war across homes, cultures, and generations. While inspired by a specific historical event, the work speaks to contemporary realities in which news of conflict, displacement, and devastation has become a constant presence. The rockets’ red glare and bombs bursting in air continue to illuminate our skies, reminding us that the consequences of war extend far beyond the battlefield, leaving lasting marks on the fabric of families, communities, and the land itself.
