2008 Craft Show Artists

The last few years I have found myself drawn to lines created by form or object. Some of my influences include the shadow of a tree projected on the asphalt or the power lines dividing the skyline. These lines are everywhere in our environment. I have also noticed the repetition of lines in my work. It has been demonstrated in my "Movement" series by taking marks from drawing and turning them into sculpture or exploring the lines that have been carved into the wood by creating a two dimension print. I have also started using two different planes of the material to create a new line within the object. Lastly, one of the most important aspects of my work is the use of magazines. The magazine has gone through a metamorphosis starting as wood, processed into a magazine and now used as a substitute for wood within the sculptures.

I make unique, art-to-wear scarves from felted wool and other mixed fibers.

I use traditional Italian and various cold working techniques to create complex designs in my glass art. My production line is mostly influence by my travels to Murano, Italy where I was taught historic Italian techniques and the history of Italian glassblowing. I have taken this experience and used it to make utilitarian objects for everyday use. My limited edition works of art come from my background in ceramics and my interest in color theory, I use both of these factors to create patterns in my decorative glass that not only reveal layers within the glass but create a surface texture that is unique to my work. I also make one of a kind sculpture in glass which comes from my own fascinations with natural occurrences that control our environment and the way living organisms affect one another in our environment. These unique works have been shown in a number of juried exhibitions at such places as the Cleveland Museum of Art and The Society for Contemporary Craft.

I make furniture because I am compelled by an inner authority to build the things I dream up in my head. I derive great pleasure from taking an idea, wrestling with it, losing sleep over it, and ultimately bringing it to life. I make wood furniture because I am endlessly fascinated by the nuances and surprises the medium offers, and my ability to shape it in a variety of ways. Whether I'm using a pencil, bandsaw, or spokeshave, I become lost in the process of arranging the countless details that add up to make a piece work, to seem right. What works, what is right, is an elusive mix of harmonious forms, materials, and presence. For me, this often includes details that are a delight to explore up close, as much with the hand as with the eye. My work is contemporary but not ignorant of the past, and features the use of subtle curves and unexpected touches within an otherwise rectilinear design sensibility. I strive to make pieces that I would want to hang out with for a long time.

My work combines traditional and non-traditional materials and techniques. I appoint value to a form, texture or technique that is normally mundane or commonplace. Using silver or gold in combination with found objects, gilded pantyhose or wood, my work explores juxtapositions and pairings. Found objects possess intrinsic properties, which I attempt to match, juxtapose or highlight with 14K gold. I use a technique I developed for gilding pantyhose with 22K gold leaf. This leads to a light, (potentially) large, textured gold surface that can be employed in a variety of ways. I carve ebony and pair it with 18K or 22K gold, combining the warmth of gold with the cool smoothness of wood. Through these divergent techniques, where play and exploration are among the most fundamental concerns, I work to create unique pieces that are simple and refined, albeit a little bit crazy.

Wavy bangles with lives of their own, inspired by organic forms found in Nature. Fun, yet sophisticated, each BioBangle is unique and full of personality. Bangles are made of polymer clay with an inner armature, making them strong but surprisingly light. The polymer clay technique I use is called Millefiori "caning", adapted from the glass work method of the same name. Each BioBangle is lovingly made by hand, and then sanded and buffed to a soft lustrous shine. The feel of these delicious bangles has to be experienced to be believed, which is why I encourage customers to touch them and try them on.