about the artist

 
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Statement

As trees in a forest steadily evolve and age, affected by time and chance events, so do each one of us.  I use the aging of trees as a metaphor to confront and understand how my life is changing, both physically and spiritually.

With the passage of time, the bark of the tree - its protective skin - sheds and peels away, exposing the inner layer of the trunk.  In my studio, making art, I too discard layers of the past, old stories and outdated beliefs, to expose what is authentic and relevant to my life now.

By creating trees struck by fire, disease and violent weather, I acknowledge the unexpected, random, frightening aspects of later years. 

Simultaneously, I am aware of the pace, style and joy of these years....... seeing so much beauty in my life and feeling free to express my own unique vision.


Process

My greatest artistic joy is to transform fleece into material.  My hands know what to do.  I know what I want to say and I start making felt.  The rest is unpredictable.  As I cut, mold, shape, sew, build, embellish, assemble and stiffen the new fabric, something unforeseen emerges.  Traditional carpentry tools, adhesives, drawings......... all work to help the central challenge ..... to transform the felt - a dense, flat, matte material - into an organic, dimensional, multi-textured sculpture.

I always work in a series, using some aspect of nature to examine a life issue that has deep meaning to me.  Each series presents new challenges, and usually takes a few years to complete. Problem solving is key, so I constantly push myself to experiment, improvise, and invent creative solutions.  I expand my fiber techniques and incorporate diverse materials such as wood, wire, metal, clay, and found natural objects.  As a self-taught artist, I am proud of the creative solutions I have generated, which I openly share with my students.

Felt making and stitching are both slow, rhythmic, repetitive actions.  Building solid armatures and working with power tools uses a contrasting set of skills and mindset.  Varying these activities, by working on several sculptures at the same time, gives me a vital, balanced studio life.

 
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overview of work

Over the past years, artwork and process has been featured in several magazines and books, including how we felt and 500 felt objects.

My art has been exhibited in museums, including the Montclair Museum, the Newark Museum, the Hunterdon Art Museum, the New Jersey State Museum, the Monmouth Museum and the Kent State University Art Museum.

Pieces have appeared in many group and solo shows in galleries throughout the country, as well as in private collections.

Although I have suspended group and private teaching, I spent many years teaching all levels of feltmaking in my home studio and Peter’s Valley Craft Center.