Spotted Shell

I grew up outside of Cleveland, Ohio and was fortunate to spend many hours at the Cleveland Museum of Art and to live just minutes away from the Dali collection that now lives in St. Petersburg Florida. These collections have had a lasting effect on the work that I produce. I attended the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus Ohio, Graduating in 1979. And for the last 50 years I have been living in North Carolina. I have a great interest in art history and use references of past artist in my work such as the found object of the Dada movement, the works of Picasso and David Smith along with ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptians art are all part of my language. I also have a deep interest in Native American art and along with other indigenous peoples works. What I find so appealing in them is that the goal of the art is to create a connection with the spirit world and the objects are vehicles to that end.

My sculpture is a part of a series of stacked wood pieces that are inspired by broken shells. I find my inspiration through the broken shells, as this reveals their internal structure and allows me the freedom to interpret the forms in new ways. Sometimes they become figurative in nature or very abstract, by using the stacked wood process it allows the warmth of the wood to add softness to the final piece and invites the viewer to touch the surface.