My Life
As a kid I grew up in an ideal country town in upstate New York. Nestled between mountains, there were always plenty of creeks and waterfalls to swim in and hiking trails that lead to the breathtaking views. I guess growing up here was like a fantasy, making me think I could be anything and do anything I wanted. I was not naive enough to think that everyplace in the world is the same, I just knew there was no place quite like this.
We are told that if we go to school and major in something that offers a multitude of job opportunities and makes money that in turn we will be happy. So when I went to college it took many change of major forms and attempts to be what society thought was "normal" to realize that I am still a little girl living in the middle of nowhere who doesn't care what anyone else wants me to be. I just wanted to do what makes me happy.
My parents have always supported the idea of me being an artist and I realize I should never have fought doing what I enjoy. That only ends in misery and now I always hear my parents say "I told you to go into art". Love you Mom and Dad! I know I should have listened, but I had to figure it out myself. My sister realized that silversmithing makes her happy, and maybe it is just a coincidence or maybe it is the sisterly similarities that made us fall in love with making jewelry. I love making unique, handmade items and hope that I will always be able to give in to the urge, the need to create.
My Statement
Everyone is searching for a feeling of comfort, and the experience once they find it may not be the same. For me the search for comfort was found in making sculptural, pod shaped jewelry. The forms are something you never want to let go of. Rolling the rounded, hollow object around in your fingers creates a calm and soothing effect. Fabricating the work has been therapeutic, and by creating work that is worn on the body I have the ability to carry these comfort spaces with me. I hope that others can see the passion that has gone into each piece and find them comforting as well. The work has been created to the highest degree of craftsmanship, but still has not reached its full potential until a person has a chance to hold it, feel it, wear it and experience it.
As a kid I grew up in an ideal country town in upstate New York. Nestled between mountains, there were always plenty of creeks and waterfalls to swim in and hiking trails that lead to the breathtaking views. I guess growing up here was like a fantasy, making me think I could be anything and do anything I wanted. I was not naive enough to think that everyplace in the world is the same, I just knew there was no place quite like this.
We are told that if we go to school and major in something that offers a multitude of job opportunities and makes money that in turn we will be happy. So when I went to college it took many change of major forms and attempts to be what society thought was "normal" to realize that I am still a little girl living in the middle of nowhere who doesn't care what anyone else wants me to be. I just wanted to do what makes me happy.
My parents have always supported the idea of me being an artist and I realize I should never have fought doing what I enjoy. That only ends in misery and now I always hear my parents say "I told you to go into art". Love you Mom and Dad! I know I should have listened, but I had to figure it out myself. My sister realized that silversmithing makes her happy, and maybe it is just a coincidence or maybe it is the sisterly similarities that made us fall in love with making jewelry. I love making unique, handmade items and hope that I will always be able to give in to the urge, the need to create.
My Statement
Everyone is searching for a feeling of comfort, and the experience once they find it may not be the same. For me the search for comfort was found in making sculptural, pod shaped jewelry. The forms are something you never want to let go of. Rolling the rounded, hollow object around in your fingers creates a calm and soothing effect. Fabricating the work has been therapeutic, and by creating work that is worn on the body I have the ability to carry these comfort spaces with me. I hope that others can see the passion that has gone into each piece and find them comforting as well. The work has been created to the highest degree of craftsmanship, but still has not reached its full potential until a person has a chance to hold it, feel it, wear it and experience it.