Artist Statement

I was trained as a traditional printmaker, and my work has evolved from traditional etchings to collographs and collages. Initially I was drawn to collographs in part because I could create the plates quickly and easily. I often liked my collograph plates as much as the prints. That awareness along with enjoying the process of creating mixed media collages led me to create collages using my etching and collograph prints. And those print collages led me to combine both my prints and found objects in my current work. It's important to me to include things from my environment as well as things that have personal meaning for me.

I have an affinity for paper, and I'm drawn to all sorts of printed materials and bits of history and memorabilia. Shortly before I started to create collograph plates, both of my grandmothers passed away and I inherited wonderful personal mementos and "attic treasures." My family records and legacy are important to me, and I'm able to weave actual pieces of my family history into both my collograph plates and my collages. I'm interested in exploring change and the passage of time in my work, and I like to contrast old with new. I'm intrigued by tensions between opposites such as dark to light, and juxtaposing different shapes, patterns and textures such as hard edges with soft edges. I like to create multiple layers and levels within my work, and there is always some aspect of movement in my pieces. I also like to draw comparisons between abstract images and identifiable objects, such as using a circle shape which is also a record which represents the recording of information. My work is non-representational, however I draw much inspiration from nature and landscapes in particular.

Education

Kutztown University, Graduate Independent Study in Printmaking, Kutztown, PA, 2007
Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA, Printmaking Workshops, 1998 - 2003
The Printmaking Workshop, New York, NY, 1992-93
School of Visual Arts, New York, NY, Continuing Ed. Program, 1990-91
Atlanta College of Art, Atlanta, GA, Continuing Ed. Program, 1989
Harvard Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, MA, Summer Program, 1981
Trinity College, Hartford, CT, B.A. Fine Arts, 1983

Awards

April, 2001, Jerome Kaplan Print Prize & Student Solo Exhibition, Fleisher Art Memorial
April, 2000, Special Merit II Award, Fleisher Art Memorial
1983, President's Fellow, Fine Art, Trinity College
1982, Friends of Trinity Art, Printmaking Award, Trinity College