ARTISTIC STATEMENT

Each of my sculptures emerges from the quiet interior, each one with a unique missive. During the pandemic, as many of us gained new skills, I learned to hold my breath for two minutes. Stilling my lungs, I shift fully into the present moment. As I listen to my heartbeat and even feel the temperature changing within my body, my mind clears. Like a sudden recollection of a word on the tip of the tongue, the message comes through from my subconscious and endless possibilities coalesce into one form. A pencil sketch on paper grounds the new vision and begins the piece. As conduits to another universe, my sculptures abide in a world where patience and contemplation are commonplace. They are channels of light and illumination, guiding the way for other creatures to follow on the path of endurance.

Clay remains my favorite medium, yet other media can enhance it. I recently started sculpting and blowing glass to capture the essence of translucent, ephemeral shapes evoking water and clouds. The cloud is an elusive, mysterious element, always shifting, disappearing and reappearing in different form. As stimuli for imagination, they invite us to find familiar shapes and recognize figures in the drifting puffs, inspiring countless legends of atmospheric deities from around the world. The cloud transforms into purifying rain, bringing relief from sweltering heat and nurturing life on the ground. The combination of glass and clay sculpture traces the line between reality and reverie, bringing to life exquisite, surreal, impossible creatures to evoke tranquility and transformation.

These figures also reflect the current atmosphere of vulnerability. As the pandemic upends order and routine, my recent relocation from San Francisco to New England has further transformed my sculptures. Leaving the clouds, my Dwellers have become part of the forest, sprouting vegetation on their surfaces and climbing onto vertical structures to gain a better vantage point. As they observe the horizon, they continue to contemplate their next move. They see imminent obstacles and challenges and embrace them as opportunities for further spiritual growth.