Artist’s Statement
I am a mixed-media artist who works intuitively with upcycled materials, natural objects, and found objects. I seek connections between the natural environment, contemporary and historical social issues, and stories inherent in the art materials themselves. Through the processes of printing, dyeing, rusting, waxing, painting, collage, and stitching, I create both representational and abstract pieces drawn from the materials’ intrinsic stories and the poetry of nature. My process is about discovery and invention working to find the stories that are inherent in the materials.
Many years of working as a professional art therapist with individuals of all ages and abilities has deepened my sense of both the deep humanity and multiple possibilities of artistic expression. I have fostered and witnessed the use of art for expression and growth. This experience has deepened my sense of the power of art as a means of expression, healing, beauty, and joy. I view art as relational and multidimensional – the artist to their environment; the artist to materials; materials to the artist; and artwork to its audience.