About
I was born in 1954 and grew up in the 1960s, a time of great political turmoil and social unrest in the United States. Although I was too young to participate in mega-events like Woodstock, the ethos of the time was deeply imprinted in my psyche.I was particularly drawn to the “back to the land” movement that espoused a more natural way of living. The doctrine of that time has stayed with me, and informs my work and my life to this day.
Sustainability is an important part of my artistic practice, and my artwork encompasses painting, fiber art and collage. Because of concerns about the environment, I use natural and upcycled materials for my work, including leftover house paint, rust, contact leaf prints, natural pigments and dyes, discarded magazines, found trash, and worn clothing.
I’m intrigued by the outcasts of society – the flawed, the imperfect, the rejected, the unwanted, the trash and the waste. I seek to reclaim them in my work and elevate them to the status of art.
I enjoy experimenting with materials and discovering what they can do when used in unusual ways. I work spontaneously and look for serendipitous effects.
My art has been featured in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad, and placed in numerous public, corporate and private collections. In addition, my work was selected for the American Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon in conjunction with the Art in Embassies Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
I live in a refurbished early 20th century farmworkers house in the coastal community of Ventura, California with my three cats, two ferals and hundreds of beautiful songbirds in my native plant yard.