Statement
Wandering through forests in fall and winter, under the quiet cathedral of trees, I see how nature echos my own emotional, intellectual and spiritual experience. My paintings are a weaving together of the fragmented images I carry back with me. Tangled plant matter, detritus, and sometimes personal symbols, form dense layers to create an intimate map of relationships and a meditative experience.
Each work is an attempt to explore the liminal space between self and environment where boundaries fade, as well as an invitation to take a closer look at our human relationship to the natural world.
Bio
Growing up in a small, crowded, midwestern house, often drove me into the woods for peace. That early connection to the natural world remains strong.
After earning a BFA in painting from the San Francisco Art , life took me to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1990. I painted with Mural Arts Philadelphia as it grew into an internationally recognized public art program. Drawn into the arena of art and community, I continued painting murals while earning an M.Ed.,and ultimately taught art in Philadelphia Public Schools for the next 13 years.
The pull to focus on my own art again, along with other significant life changes, led to an early retirement from teaching. I returned to the west coast, settling in Vancouver, Washington.
My work is listed on the ArtsWA public artists roster and recent paintings have become a part of the Washington State Art Collection as well as the SPSCC Campus Collection. In addition, several public murals were commissioned by the city of Vancouver.
The lush Pacific Northwest rainforests continue to inform and inspire, providing endless opportunities for exploration.