Artist Statement

Collecting found objects has always been a hobby of mine. As a child I remember collecting natural objects, especially insects and being very drawn to their existence. Living in an old steel city, fragments of metal always had their own pile as well. These early interests of life forms in a backdrop of smut and steel machinery became the influence to the work I create. The fascination in how life forms function and how they can be broken down into individual parts similar to present-day machinery captures my attention. The art I create posses this common thread of making connections from the organic world to the industrial world.

Metal as a medium, possesses the diversity to be a very useful material for the building of mechanisms such as hinges, while at the same time portray warmth and the ability to resemble a different material all together. The visual aesthetic that I choose to delivery my ideas is a combination of natural and industrial forms and in most cases are in the form of containers. This combination creates turmoil and distress between these two entities, while establishing co-existence in a delicate manner. Techniques such as forging, raising, and hinge making are key techniques I use to develop the containers. Hinges play a very important role in the sculpture. They establish an inside environment and outside appearance. I am fascinated with the idea of surprise and discovery. Vulnerability and misguided interpretation become core concepts in the work. Many of the forms are interpretations of living matter, such as pods and cocoons integrating the subject of growth. The outer shell or covering is a screen that completely conceals the inside environment. The inside contains other materials such as wax to represent organic substance. A metaphor to situations, that we as humans and the rest of the world undergo each and everyday. The sculptures are meant to spark curiosity and exploration interests to the viewer.

Jewelry as an art form became of interest to me later. I find it compelling to try to create art pieces that are visually pleasing while at the same time functional. It requires more factors to consider, for example, comfort, strength, and lightness. I approach the jewelry portion of my work by creating pieces that embellish my primary aesthetic of natural and industrial forms, while creating a light and delicate appearance. The surfaces, types of material, and minute detail used, are meant to invite the viewer to explore the pieces further with their eyes and fingertips.