In the corner of my studio sits a shabby, faded and slightly balding stuffed teddy bear. His name is Etone, and he has been with me since childhood. Though temporarily lent to my children in their youth, he prominently holds guard as I work and lends an ear when necessary. A present from my mother, Etone has accompanied me through adolescent crushes, my rocky first marriage, the birth of my children and the death of my beloved grandparents. He is tear stained and dented from a history of fierce hugs, but he is resilient. Etone is the root of the autobiographical influence of The Refuge. The installation features a foam sculpted duplicate of Etone gazing out through an attic window as he sits on a hope chest among fragments of his life.
