Artist Statement

Dance, figurative imagery, and nature serve as the foundation of my work.  I use the figure to capture frozen moments of gesture and dance. I am also interested in the movements of the craftsman especially in time and heat-based crafts such as blacksmithing and glassblowing that often require a partner and constant movement of the entire body; the process of making is choreographic. I am also inspired by natural environments and landscapes which have had lasting impact on me: most prevalent are the Blue Ridge Mountains and the olive trees in Tuscany. I am interested in the connection between sculpture, contemporary jewelry, and wearable art as a form of public art.

While I enjoy the properties of precious metals, I strive to maintain an awareness in my studio practice by staying updated on responsible mining companies, sustainable sourcing for material, proper waste disposal, and by re-using old jewelry and scrap material when possible. While I continue to use traditional enameling, silvermithing, and goldsmithing techniques, I also use contemporary color applications such as powder coating. Most recently I have been working in steel, both coal-forging and cold bending.