I started the drawings for this ongoing series before I had a name for it. The works are loosely affiliated and resemble The Black Frames in their formal, symmetrical structures. They often display a combination of imagery and text. The term Americana contains multitudes to me. I cannot think of a word more cherished or loathed, an idea that could be molded into either something wholesome or perverse. I hope these works capture some of the pathology as well as the poetry of our current moment.
![Future Specificity Americana ink, Flashe, and graphite on paper](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/280.jpg?1673275339)
Future Specificity
2022
ink, Flashe, and graphite on paper
15 x 18 inches
![Freedom's Just Another Word Americana ink and graphite on paper](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/248.jpg?1593633836)
Freedom's Just Another Word
2020
ink and graphite on paper
15 x 18 inches
![Disappearing Act Americana ink and graphite on paper](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/247.jpg?1591298732)
Disappearing Act
2020
ink and graphite on paper
18 x 15 inches
![Good & Dusty Americana ink, gouache and graphite on paper](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/249.jpg?1591298739)
Good & Dusty
2020
ink, gouache and graphite on paper
15 x 18 inches
![The Juarez Device (for Terry Allen) Americana powdered graphite, acrylic medium, Flashe, gouache and ink on paper](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/251.jpg?1591298746)
The Juarez Device (for Terry Allen)
2020
powdered graphite, acrylic medium, Flashe, gouache and ink on paper
12.5 x 17 inches
![C'est la guerre/ c'est la vie! Americana ink and graphite on paper](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/241.jpg?1591298526)
C'est la guerre/ c'est la vie!
2020
ink and graphite on paper
15 x 18 inches
![Galveston Americana ink and graphite on paper](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/242.jpg?1591298581)
Galveston
2020
ink and graphite on paper
15 x 18 inches
![Call & Response Americana ink, gouache, and graphite on paper](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/240.jpg?1591298656)
Call & Response
2020
ink, gouache, and graphite on paper
18 x 15 inches
![Alma Mater Americana graphite and India ink on paper](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/215.jpg?1593633640)
Alma Mater
2019
graphite and India ink on paper
15 x 18 inches
![Don't Get Me Wrong Americana graphite and India ink on paper](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/214.jpg?1591298637)
Don't Get Me Wrong
2019
graphite and India ink on paper
18 x 15 inches
![untitled Americana ink and gouache on paper and wood construction](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/250.jpg?1591298742)
untitled
2018
ink and gouache on paper and wood construction
19.5 x 21.75 x 1 inches
![Don't Let Distance Keep You Away Americana ink and graphite on paper construction](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/244.jpg?1586112156)
Don't Let Distance Keep You Away
2017
ink and graphite on paper construction
8 x 10 x 1 inches
![Oui! Americana ink, gouache, and graphite on paper construction](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/246.jpg?1586111727)
Oui!
2017
ink, gouache, and graphite on paper construction
8 x 10 x 0.75 inches
![Keano Americana ink and graphite on paper](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/245.jpg?1586111724)
Keano
2017
ink and graphite on paper
8 x 10 inches
![Hey Chum! Americana ink and graphite on paper](//d3zr9vspdnjxi.cloudfront.net/artistInfo/michaela/big/243.jpg?1586111718)
Hey Chum!
2017
ink and graphite on paper
8 x 10 inches