Statement

I am a third-generation female artist, from a family of female professional fine arts painters in the American South, each well-schooled in the classical traditions of painting and drawing.

My artwork is spirited tangible evidence of the process of my attempt to visually understand, interpret, and connect with that which is directly in front of me. Through my practice of art, I seek to find a type of relational resonance with/in my environment. While I may not gravitate to painting portraits of notable people, as did my mother who worked in watercolors, or my grandmother who worked in oils, the “portraits” I convey, engaging a wide variety of media, are of landscape and still-life settings, remain inspired by that which is directly in front of me.

When engaging in the design of educational experiences, I lean heavily into the pedagogical philosophies around the Reggio Emilia Approach in early childhood education; the methodologies of Visual Thinking Strategies; intentional critical visual interpretive practices; the foundation of the traditional principles and elements of art and design, and the seriousness of joyful play.

With my technical understanding of a wide variety of medium, processes and interpretation, supported by a pedological philosophy of the participant as the protagonist, in educational settings I provide service as a facilitator of making, of wonder, emphasizing exploration of intent, allowing room for joyful chaos, buoyed by ongoing assessment/reassessment, discussion, documentation.

CONTEXT

- B.S. Studio Arts, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, 1985

- M.A. Gallery & Museum Management, Western Colorado University, Gunnison, CO, 2022

- Emanating from the perspective of a third-generation female artist living in the American South, a painter-printmaker, skilled in drawing (charcoal, pencil, graphite, pen/ink, pastel), painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor, & water-based media), printmaking (relief: woodcut, linocut, collagraphy; intaglio: etching, copper plate engraving; stone lithography; chine collé), photography, collage. More recently exploring working with textiles and Sashiko thread. And the crafting process of paper quilling.

- Experienced with art/object handling, material culture research, condition maintenance, curatorial projects, exhibition Installation, narrative interpretation, engagement, assessment, and evaluation.

- Inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach in Early Childhood Education, with a strong history as an arts educator / teaching artist, designing, and facilitating intentional opportunities for expressive creative engagement in informal settings.

- Advocate for Arts in Health, Arts and WellBeing

- On occasion, research, marketing, packing/shipping; assistant; condition care/maintenance of 18th-century British furniture and smalls, at M. Ford Creech Antiques & Fine Arts, Memphis, TN