
Artist Statement:
I am an artist. I am an art educator. I treat each of these passions equally. I use my skills and my expertise to serve and enlighten. Art is my avenue to be involved in my community. I see the world through the lens of art, and I believe in its power to instruct, humanize, and intervene. When I study ancient or contemporary art making, I feel like I am connecting directly to another human being, across time. I believe art can ignite dialogue, promote cultural tolerance, and move us closer to social justice.
While practicing art and teaching throughout my career, I have learned many skills and techniques borrowed from many mediums. My preferred medium is collagraph printmaking. I create a drawing, inlay the drawing with collage materials, make the materials water-tight, ink the materials, and then print the image in the printing press. The materials leave an embossed, inked surface on the paper.
I select my medium based on my narrative. I am a storyteller in my art. Some stories translate better with the qualities of different materials or processes. I can be very eclectic in my approach. I frequently incorporate fiber techniques and rely on collage in my work. My printmaking is a two-dimensional medium with the images beginning as collages which are printed as collagraphs. If the narrative idea is better clarified with three-dimensional materials, I frequently use them in collage/ assemblage.
I have exhibited in many local, regional, and national juried shows. I continue to further my education through workshops, teaching, cultural study, and museum visits. I am always curious, hungry for knowledge, anxious to serve, needing to grow, and driven to advance.
Read an article from the St Cloud Times here.
