2008 Craft Show Artists

These one of a kind vessels are fabricated from raw sheet and wire out of pewter, sterling and copper, then coated with multiple layers of resin which is embedded with dry pigment and other materials such as seeds, minerals or metal. The vessels are then sanded to a satin finish and adorned with more hand made elements of metal, wood or whatever else suits my needs.

Freestanding and wall mounted sculptural works.

Fragments of thoughts, memories, and interpretations of physical objects converge to influence and realize my work. Experiences of traveling, transitions observed in the landscape, images suggested in poetry, and the decay and rejuvenation of nature provide inspiration. I am intrigued by interior and exterior spaces. The resulting parallels or dichotomies of their dual existence, is a consideration in both the form and content of the objects I create.

The work is a response to my surrounding environment and relationships therein. Prevailing subjects are the landscape, tranquility of water and dynamics of family. Besides the subject, my continued exploration and understanding of enamel on copper motivate my work. The factor of risk and physics inherent to the process hold my interest and challenge my efforts to control the material. Working in a medium entrenched in tradition and with stringent guidelines impels me to work outside the given rules and make discoveries with the material.

Since 1995, I've taken a contemporary approach to pewterware and experimented with form, surface treatment, materials and color. My goal is to pull pewter away from its stereotype and demonstrate its decorative versatility.

Hand fabricated one-of-a-kind and limited production small sculptural pieces of precious metals (mainly silver), stones, glass and found objects. Most have movement including rolling, turning, spinning, etc.

Welded bronze constructions with hot process patinas.

My inner voice is inspired by the essence of life for which nature and botany are symbols in my work. Beauty and function are my most important accomplishments. Since this breath of life is so important as an expression throughout my work, I fabricate my creations using Old World techniques such as repousse and chasing to catch light. Along with these I use silver for its reflectivity, making my pieces appear to move. My style is strong and distinctive, highly detailed and illustrative. I use sterling silver with a variety of techniques including fabrication, raising, forging, repousse, chasing, and a high polish finish.

What moves me most is the idea of continuity, a sense of history of the creative minds and hands of many artists of the past, what I call the "history of the making". We are product of the our past and contributors to the future. Nothing ever created has been born out of a vacuum. In my view, the denial of our history is the denial of creativity. If we deny the past, we will be denied by the future. I am inspired by what I feel contemplating creations from the past, and by a desire to blend the old with the new. These coffrets (old word for small safety boxes) are part of a larger body of work that expresses the encounter of two cultures, sometimes one dominated the other, imposing its values and principles, often destroying the one subjugated. In other cases there is influence from admiration of a new culture, even it is partially or poorly understood. The boxes are made of forge welded mild steel, cold and hot forming, tig welding, riveting, steel patinas and 23K gilding.

My vessels are primarily made of hammer-formed (raised) and spun metal components which have been sawn, pierced and constructed by soldering them together. To finish, I employ techniques including etching, electroplating, metal-leafing and patination, sometimes incorporating colored resins and small jewel highlights of color.

One-of-a-kind and limited edition elegant contemporary sculptural and functional art works designed, formed, roller printed, constructed and soldered by artist using sterling silver and 18K gold, and lead free pewter.

Most of our work is cast and fabricated bronze. We have recently added cast glass elements to our bronze.

I draw every design out freehand on a sheet of stainless steel with magic marker. I then cut every element of negative space with an electric torch by hand, thus leaving the viewer with the musicality of shapes dancing on a plane of two dimensional steel. My compositions are influenced by my whimsical sense of humor and by my past experience of jewelry making. I further enhance the composition by adding ball bearings, masonry nails, gold and copper leaf, metal rod, and enamel paint. The piece is then clear coated with enamel for protection.

PLIQUE-A-JOUR enamel technique on 18kt Gold or Silver metal.

Fabrication, including tig & oxyacetylene welding, brazing and fastening of metals. Metals include steel, copper, bronze, brass and stainless steel. Inclusion also of enameled copper & the occasional use of exotic wood and glass. Metals are patinaed by artist using artist-made chemical formulas applied with a variety of hot & cold techniques.