Biography

Weaving, quilting, needle arts, silk screening and basketry are areas of fiber I’ve explored over the years. My current work is a culmination of reflections and experiences with dimensional format. I found that I wanted to manipulate the flat surfaces into 3-dimensional forms. The discovery of basketry techniques enabled me to construct forms without constrictions of size or shape.

My experimentation with paper began over 18 years ago after discovering a variety of exquisite kozo papers in a shop in Japan. I was intrigued by the transparency and strength of the papers. Returning home, I began to use them for printmaking and then applied the printed papers to the surfaces of my basket forms.

I had previously cast handmade paper, but found the forms weren’t flexible enough to manipulate. I experimented with layering mulberry papers using an acrylic adhesive to a basket form or other object, then removing it and manipulating it into the forms I desired. Coming from a textile background, I enjoy that paper has a memory and retains the textures from the objects it is cast on. It also has the freedom of flexibility to be painted, dyed, and altered; giving the illusions of weight, of being made of metal or clay.

I love to travel internationally and visit Ethnological Museums. My work often reflects these experiences with other cultures. As for my philosophy: The process of creating is centering and exciting. It is important to me in my own work and when I teach, to encourage experimentation of new techniques, forms, materials, and content.

Artist Statement

My work is inspired by the forms and rhythms found in nature. I am drawn to organic structures and the ways in which growth and transformation occur quietly over time. Using handmade papers, natural fibers and mixed media, I construct sculptural vessels and forms that reference the botanical world while remaining abstract enough to invite personal interpretation.

The process of building, weaving and shaping materials is meditative and tactile. Each piece evolves through layering, repetition and attention to the subtleties of surface and structure. I am interested in creating work that feels both delicate and strong, grounded in natural forms yet shaped by imagination. My sculptures reflect an ongoing dialogue between material, form and the quiet intelligence of the natural world.