Artist Statement

I create mixed media three-dimensional works constructed from a combination of organic and industrial materials. My artwork is fueled by my interest and studies in African-American, European American, and First Nations folk medicine, and folk magic.

The works are not literal or narrative interpretation of these cultural practices; rather, I use combinations of materials such as human hair, beeswax, feathers, and traditional techniques such as metal casting, forging, and fabricating base metals to suggest or echo American folkways.

Some elements in the work are deceptive in their display. What might appear purely mechanical, domestic, or industrial at first glance, soon becomes sacred, magical, or ritualistic in character. The shift between these contexts holds my interest and encourages me to explore more ways of creating works that evoke feelings that are two- or threefold in nature.

photos: Aglio Arts (copyright)