Artist's Statement


       Clay is the medium that I have chosen to work in at this stage of my life.  Although sometimes I feel that, on the contrary, it has chosen me!  I never see a blank block of clay.  The moment my hands have touched the clay, I begin seeing images and movement on it's surface.  Often there is a tension until I let the clay go in the direction that it wants to go.
        My sculptures are most often narrative and are concerned with emotional states of being.  I like to use metaphors to create (or remove) the trappings of time and space in order to more purely expose the emotion.  The illusionary nature of time and space has always interested me since I first tried to wrap my mind around the concept of "the beginning of time".  Moments when we can perhaps glimpse instances of time and space that are different yet connected to us are through dreaming, experiencing strong emotion-or through our imaginations.
        For me, the underwater world offers a fascinating way in which to conceptualize a separate but parallel world.  It's quiet, womb-like ambiance lends itself to metaphors of ancient times, pre-birth, or even the subconscious.  Strong currents of water draw us unaware, just as different influences in life pull us in directions we haven't consciously chosen.
        I want to create pieces that are visually interesting and pleasing, yet are ambiguous enough to allow the viewer to connect to the piece in their own way.  Pieces that awake them to their own "imaginings" here and beyond.