Mixed Media
I am a mixed media artist working in natural fiber, wood, repurposed antique or vintage fabrics, leather, and clay. I’m a storyteller and adventurer at heart. If I could have Jules Verne over for dinner, I would. I am also a collector and admirer of textiles, tools, and objects from the past. I use my carvings and collections to create the chapters of my life in imagery evocative of 17-19th century lithographs, literature, and satire. The provenance of materials often makes its way into the brief stories of each character as a way to punctuate their tales, to preserve old materials, and honor the methods for making them. I use only hand tools and pride myself on creating one-of-a-kind characters using wood I find on my adventures, injecting a bit of humor, and promoting the old idea of “making do”. My characters look like they have lived a lot and have a story to tell. My job, once I bring them to a show, is to connect them with the next leg of their journey.
I will be doing a moderate amount of wood carving to show my method of choosing wood for my characters and the use of hand tools. I will be demonstrating my clothing design and draping methods as well as the making of the tiny leather shoes. As always, the stories of the characters with the provenance of their vintage materials are an integral part of my work. My collectors come to hear the tales!