Bio
I am a ceramic artist making both sculptures and pottery, often in combination. My work has been exhibited throughout the United States and internationally. I have a studio in Pittsburgh. From 1981-2021 I taught at The Ellis School where I took my students on many adventures such as to Japan on “The Potter’s Trail” in Tokoname and to study Mayan Ceramics with experimental archeologists in Belize, Central America. In addition to teaching in the United States I taught ceramics to villagers in Belize.
I was given two Heinz Small Arts Initiative Grants in 2008 and 2018 for exhibits during The National Clay Conferences in Pittsburgh. Since 2006 I have donated pieces for the AIDS benefit at The Carnegie Museum of Art, The August Wilson Center and other venues. My work has been in several Associated Artists of Pittsburgh annual exhibits at The Carnegie Museum as well as in The Society for Contemporary Crafts where I exhibited a series of porcelain water dragon teapots. In Japan, Italy and Greece I created installation pieces during residencies. My work was shown several times in Shanghai, China at The International Teapot Invitational Exhibitions.
My residencies included experiences in the USA, Canada, Hungary, Italy, Greece, France, Japan and Mexico. At several residencies at The Anderson Ranch Art Center in Colorado I studied with Christine Federighi, Judy Moonellis, Indira Johnson, Stephan De Stabler and Adrian Arleo. Later I organized several residencies called “Artist Ask Artists” groups at Watershed Ceramic Center in Maine.
My ceramic sculptures have been featured in the magazines Studio Potter,Ceramic Monthly, American Craft and Clay Times. I have also been featured in two books, The Extruder Book and 500 Figures: Sculptors Explore The Figurative Form by Lark Books.
My teaching and my art are my dual passions. Teaching since 1978 has been one of the greatest influences on my own development as an artist. Learning new ways to solve problems and seeing different points of view with my students and other artists has kept my work fresh. My hope is that I am still creating in a questioning way as I did when I was a child.
Artist Statement
Expressing myself through the making of objects is a privilege and a passion. The human figure has long been a feature in much of my work. Through figurative imagery my wheel and hand-built work explores the relationships between people. It is a conversation, fueled by friendships and travels, a visual diary narrated with an evolving personal vocabulary of images. I have employed different techniques, clay bodies and surface treatments. Recently I have experimented with wheel-throwing different forms in a series, with and without figurative imagery. I have found that altering and sculpting into these thrown vessels significantly affects the interpretation of my work.
I believe that many people today are searching through figurative images for spiritual guidance. Some ancient people thought that icons were alive and had spiritual powers. My own work is inspired by these beliefs and images.