Florida Artists Group

Artist's Bio:

I studied art at the College of Marin in Kentfield, CA, and have taken various workshops, some at
Mendocino Art Center. I have exhibited in solo and group shows, in galleries and museums throughout
Northern California and in Florida, and have pieces in private collections in both states, as well. My work,
or reviews of it, have appeared in numerous periodicals, including"ARTWEEK" and "Surface Design", and
“Sarasota Downtown and Beyond."
Throughout my art life, I have used metal sculpturally, but until 2004, it was light gauge or wire. I began a
series of courses in welding at SCTI, and soon began working in heavier steel. “Mask” is very much
influenced by the Oceanic art that I have seen in museums and books.

Artist Statement:

As a sculptor, I am interested in form and surface particularly, and have a great fondness for metal. I love its strength and the way it ages, or rusts – it bears witness to history. At the side of the road or in junk yards, my eyes are always searching for unusual pieces. A lifelong interest in the environment, and ‘creative reuse’ as a way of being kinder to Mother Earth, are also motivations.

Having a certain reverence for the mystery of how time, experiences, and DNA interact to make us what we are, I am moved to create new lives for these castoffs, hopefully giving them back a certain dignity or significance.

I enjoy using metal in non-traditional ways, to treat it like fabric, for instance, or to make something beautiful out of very prosaic "stuff". I treasure the unexpected things that happen when making art, and attempt to allow them. Sculpting is a way of touching my own heart. It nourishes me; I also hope my work makes a connection with those who view it.

Exhibitions:

2012                       Selby Gallery, Ringling College of Art and Design
2011                        ACCI Gallery, Berkeley, CA, “Can Do”
2011                       Falkirk Cultural Cneter, EDGE, “Can Do”, San Rafael, CA
2011                       Bolivar Art Gallery, Sarasota, FL, Exhibiting artist, Featured artist
2010                       Big Arts, Sanibel, FL; Nancy Stair Karish Memorial award; Dan Welden, juror
2009                      WCA, Gallery at Gulf and Pine, Ana Maria, FL Merit award
2009                      FLAG exhibition at Leepa-Rattner Museum, Tarpon Springs, FL
                                Awarded Benjamin Prize by juror Sam Gilliam
2008                      Gallery at Gulf and Pine, WCA, Anna Maria, FL, Merit award
2008                      Arts Benicia Gallery, Edge, Benicia, CA
2008                      Longboat Key Art Center, Glen Gallery, solo show, Longboat Key, FL
2007                      Selby Gallery, Florida Artists Group, Sarasota, FL
2006                      Selby Gallery, Women Contemporary Artists, Sarasota FL
2006                      ACCI Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2006                      Ridge Art Association Gallery,Winter Haven, FL
2006                      Art center Sarasota, “Travel”
2005                      Women’s Resource Center, Sarasota, FL
2005                      Out of the Ordinary, Sarasota, FL
2005                      Project Creo, St. Petersburg FL (International)
2005                      Women Contemporary Artists, Sarasota, FL
2005                      Art Center Sarasota, (solo show), Sarasota, FL
2004                      Fallkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA
2004                      The Presidio, San Francisco, CA
2004                      Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, FL
2003                      Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA
2002                      The Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz, CA
2002                      The Presidio, San Francisco, CA
2001                       Art Works Gallery, San Rafael, CA
2000                      Museum of Art & History, Redding, CA
2000                      Atrium Gallery 600 Townsend, San Francisco, CA
1999                       Fiberscene Website (International)
1999                       Bolinas Museum, Bolinas, CA
1999                       College Art Gallery, Kentfield, CA
1999                       Marin County Fair, Merit award
1999                       Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA
1999                       Gallery Oboy, San Francisco CA (solo show)
1998                       Olive Hyde Art Gallery, Fremont, CA (Cash award)
1997                       Civic Center Gallery, San Rafael, CA
1997                       Downtown Art Center Gallery, San Rafael, CA
1996                       Artfibers Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1995                       Sebastapol Center for the Arts, Sebastapol, CA
1995                       Artisans Gallery, Mill Valley, CA

Publications:

Downtown and Beyond, Sarasota Weekly, Pelican Press. Pacific Sun, Marin Independent Journal, Artweek, Surface Design, Fiberarts, Redding Record Searchlight