Artist’s Statement I have been designing and making metal objects and jewelry since 1975. Metal is really second nature to me. I love working in it, knowing about it and learning new things about it. I also love sharing it with others through my creations and through teaching. Over the years, I have come to enjoy the contradictions of metal. That it is rigid and yet very moveable. It is a very cold material and yet can be made to be very inviting. It is a difficult medium to master, yet so much fun to work in. Metal is the palate I have chosen to make the world a more beautiful place in which to live. While working for many years in the medium of metal, I have translated it into many forms. I have designed and constructed high-fashion jewelry, custom jewelry, architectural pieces, sculpture and tableware. Throughout all of my work and designs is a consistent approach to making art that can be integrated into every-day life. I want to create pieces that catch the viewer's attention... that make the viewer stop for a minute and look at a work of art that can also be used every day and is very functional. My desire to live with functional art has led me to design many objects: legs for a small table, drawer pulls, kitchen utensils, and jewelry. I believe that living with art enhances our lives - and that art, which can be used to meet a functional need as well as making an aesthetic statement, is very desirable to live with. I believe that as children we all have artistic creativity. And unless that artistic creativity is nurtured, it will whither. I believe that we are all have the potential to be creative. Many of us have had it trained out of us over the years. And everyone needs to nourish his or her art side if it is going to thrive. I believe that the world / the educational system / our lack of art education all contribute to most people feeling insecure about art and very insecure about creating art. Creating work and teaching are both ways for me to share art with others. That is why I really enjoy making art that people can use in their everyday lives and use on a regular basis. It reconnects people with their creativity. Enhancements For several years, I designed, manufactured and sold a line of high fashion jewelry. Through this experience, I learned about marketing, small-scale production and the fashion industry. During this time, my family was growing and we bought a home. When I began to look for lighting and other accessories for my home, I was not pleased with what was available. My desire to live with functional art and the absence of wonderfully designed, well-made home accessories in the marketplace led to me create the items I wanted for my home. I believe that living with art enhances our lives - and that art, which can be used to meet a functional need as well as making an aesthetic statement, is very easy to live with. I have discovered that I am not alone in having a desire to live with functional art. I have expanded this line of work and developed it into a line of functional art for the home and office, which I call: "Enhancements". It includes lighting, tableware, cabinet hardware, small sculpture, wall sconces, candlestands, and desk accessories. Metals Instructor I have shared my love for metal by teaching it to others since 1978. I have been teaching Jewelry Making and Metalsmithing to adults through the San Diego Community College District Continuing Education program for over 25 years and through Saddleback College for four years. Students attend weekly sessions on an ongoing basis. Their desire to continually learn new skills and techniques expands my experiences as an artist. Students have won awards for their work and quite a few have sold work that they have produced in my class. Several students have gone on to professional careers in the jewelry industry. Education I have a BFA from the University of Houston and an MA from San Diego State University. Both degrees are in Art, specializing in Jewelry and Metalsmithing. I attend lectures, read professional journals and attend workshops in order to stay current in my field. I am a member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths and the American Crafts Council. Achievements My work has been featured in American Style, American Craft, Metalsmith, San Diego Home Garden and Redbook Magazines as well as the San Diego Union Tribune Newspaper. It has also appeared in The Goodfellow Catalog of Wonderful Things III, Jewelry Making: A Guide for Beginners by Thomas P. Foote, and 20 years in Metal. I have exhibited widely and currently have work in galleries across the country. I continue to exhibit and create custom artwork in addition to keeping up with "Enhancements". The Next Direction I have occasionally created larger pieces: a 5' heigh by 8' wide wall sculpture, several smaller wall sculptures and a 6' tall copper cross for a church steeple. I enjoy the challenge the larger size presents in addition to the powerful statement that a work that large can make. In August of 1997, I was fortunate enough to be asked to create some metal art pieces for the Designer Showcase House in San Diego. I worked with Dawn Sullivan of DAS Interiors to create lighting, drawer pulls, switch plate covers, a towel bar, a utensil rack and an apron hook. Since then, I have designed and created more architectural pieces such as curtain rods, cabinet feet, and cabinet door fronts. I am very excited about working in a larger scale and intend to pursue creating other functional as well as non-functional pieces. I also intend to continue teaching, as it is a constant source of inspiration for me and I believe also for my students.