At the age of sixteen, I underwent a psychotherapy procedure (EMDR) to discover and address the origin of repressed trauma. The result of this experiment was a rat's nest of truths and fiction with no reliable narrator.

Like a Bad Penny is an ongoing study of the parallels between trauma, self-perception, and relationships. The term "like a bad penny" references an old proverb that describes the recurrence of an unwanted person or event.

I am interested in the dysfunction within my family that is the foundation of my identity. I cling to the idea that we become more like our parents as we age - whether we are better or worse versions or carbon copies. Despite my resistance to the idea of a pre-determined fate, I have an attraction to people who possess the attributes I wish to hide or avoid. I see trauma as an energy that cannot be created or destroyed – it can be inherited, transferred, and shared. Damage existed before me - I inherited some from my family and acquired more. Ghosts of the past that haunt us into adulthood are the binding glue in my relationships with others. The individuals portrayed are relatives and assumed family, recurring figures in my memories. Some of us are considered dangerous or misunderstood despite attempted reconciliation. These feelings of inadequacy dissipate in the presence of trusted company.

As complicated as these individuals are, there exists a simple need for understanding over judgment. My experience in recording the intimate lives of others has personally reinforced the value of forgiveness and healing. As time passes and these conversations continue, it is a shared memory of trauma that - like a bad penny, always turn up.