A R T I S T   S T A T E M E N T

After several years as a successful jeweler I began to work in the plastic arts. I quickly became absorbed by bronze work. Unlike other media I have worked with its developing stages allow me a ’hands on’ immediacy. Through this process I feel a dynamic balance between the idea of each piece and the form I wish it to take.

For creative inspiration I look with wide-eyes at the Primitive sculpture of the early twentieth century. In these works I see a formal simplicity that suggests coherence between humanity and nature. I am also trying to reveal the close relationships we share with natural environments, but my subjects are more tangibly derived from today’s perceptions of the human body. I do not depend on the integrity of basic shapes as a true primitivist may but want to allow a work’s overall form to be transcended and included by an embracing rhythm and defining contour.  It is this inclusive approach by which I try to combine the essence of primitivism with a contemporary vision.

To further this approach I appeal for a level of participation from a viewer. I want my art to communicate, retain a recognizable spirit and be reflective of the worldly condition we are each subject to on a daily basis. For familiarity I use a symbolism aquatinted with western iconography; however, to produce a deeper interaction I include movable parts that may be positioned according to a viewer’s discretion. This invites a viewer to take part in the development of each piece, their participation endlessly transforming its external qualities while not overturning its character.

 

B I O G R A P H Y

I was born in Three Hills, Alberta in 1951. The youngest of six girls, we moved to Calgary several months after where I continue to live with my own family. Having held a fascination for the arts for as long as I can remember, I began my studies in Jewelry Design while my children were at school. After several years at The Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD) I began creating one-of-a-kind rings, brooches and pendants in gold and silver incorporating precious and semi-precious stones. I find sculpture a natural progression form Jewelry design as many of the skills I had acquired could be applied in exciting ways. In recent years I have traveled extensively and it is to the cultures of South America and Europe that I owe for much for the inspiration they have given me. Line, shape, and rhythm are elements I continue to explore through my bronze work.

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