Artist's Statement

My work is an investigation of definitions, boundaries, selections and connections. It explores the liminal space between things which are considered established, and questions the relationships between them.  Where are the lines between art and craft, male and female, painting and sculpture? How do we define ourselves? Are “black” and “white” actually colors of skin or cultural constructions, and if they are, then how do people decide where do you draw the line between them?   This exploration of multiple perspectives and definitions is an entirely postmodernist approach. However rather than breaking things down entirely I prefer to explore the relationships. 

As has become true of many contemporary artists, I do not limit my materials, or even my style. Instead I focus on what best suits the concept, history and the sensory experience for the work. My work includes painting, sculpture, installation, performance, digital work, fiber, and combinations of all of the above and anything else that will suit the piece.

I am fascinated by culture, folklore, religions, social psychology and simply the way people think and experience life.  How do we define ourselves, our world and our place in it? How have other people done so in the past?  Where are the common threads?  Where are the boundaries?  I ask these questions with both profound respect for the humanity in those definitions and absolute disregard for the sanctity of definitions for their own sake. 

I subscribe to the very Unitarian and Transcendental view of Walt Whitman- to listen to all sides and sift them for myself...  and then I like to pick that idea up a moment or a year later and question it again. 

To fill that sieve I have tried to experience as many sides of life as I could do justice to.  I have lived in woods and cities.  I have been a competitive gymnast, a dancer, weaver, bouncer, salesperson, tight-rope walker, fire-dancer, stilt-walker, … even a bagel-slinger.  Probably the most essential experiences were 16 years of doing Shiatsu massage and martial arts, being a teacher, and now a mother. Throughout everything I am and have always been an artist.

Now (living so near Silicon Valley) I am surrounded by computer programmers and engineers (including my husband) and that has added yet another dimension to my work and experience.

Each things adds to the others. I believe that in order to produce meaningful work an artist must draw from a rich and meaningful observation and experience of life.

CV

Education

Diploma, Harvard-Westlake, LA, Ca. May, 1995.
best possible score in all AP courses: Art History, Studio Art, and English Language. National Merit Semi-Finalist.

BA in History of Religions, May 1999 Earlham College, Richmond IN.

Diploma in Fine Arts, Dec 2002 School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston MA.

MA in Integrated Arts Education, May 2004, Plymouth State College, Plymouth, NH.

 

Art Affiliations-

Member of The Drawing Center's Viewing Program (since 9/04/07)- The Drawing Center, New York. about New York's Drawing Center

Member of Artmesh.org (since 2007)- an invitation-only international online group for artists and members of the arts community.

Resident Artist at Gallery One (2007-2008)- Gallery One was an artist-run Gallery hosting studio space to several bay area artists.

Member of Rhizome

 

Shows-

“Scales”-  Participatory Installation , TI Music Festival, San Francisco (October 2009)

“New Work”-  Semi-Solo show at the Little Gallery, Sage College, NY (April 2009)

"Exquisite Corps"- Collaborative Piece shown by Constantin Severin at the Biblioteca Bucovine Suceava, Romania (April 2009)

"Here, There and Everywhere: Anticipating the Future of Art" The Transcultural Exchange Center's exhibition/conference (4/2009), Boston. http://transculturalexchange.org/conference_2009/overview.htm

Treasure Trove (9/08) Treasure Island Music Festival's Interactive Art and Culture Tent, San Francisco. A second installation of "Identity Tapestry" done on an expanded scale over two days.

"Alchemy" (4/26/08) an installation of "Identity Tapestry", Cellspace, San Francisco.

"Shaman" (10/07-11/07) Gallery One, San Francisco.

"Works on Paper" (7/07-8/07) Gallery One, San Francisco.

featured artist (8/06-3/07) The Artist's Alley, San Francisco. Works on display from the Sculpted Canvas Series and the Unconscious Exchange Series.

"The Postcard Show" (12/2/05) The Lab, San Francisco, "The Postcard Show challenges artists to stretch the parameters of media and conceptual strategies by doing what they do best- subverting and manipulating a theme to their own ends.

"Huis op de bodem van de zee " (9/03) This was a group show in the Netherlands based on a retreat during which each artist created a site-specific installation. These were documented with photography or video for the show, and several were transported to the gallery.

Iconoclasm (11/02) Harvard University. The show's theme was questioning Christian Icons and it set an atmosphere of classic Carnvale (a festival which playfully overturns societal standards). I contributed artwork and did a night-long performance based on the liminal character of the Fool.

Ceramic Sculpture Show (2000) School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

 

Press-

Romanian Media including Adevarul, News Bucovina (1) , News Bucovina (2), Evenimentul (April 2009)

Mention in Make Apr 22nd 2008

Interview and cover of Mission Arts Monthly (3/05) link to interview (text version), link to pdf version