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Born in 1963 in New York City, I was influenced early on by the multiples of objects and icons surrounding me. I was always fascinated with grouping detached materials in new ways. Visiting a Joseph Cornell and Donald Judd show at an art gallery in Soho in the 1970's provided much inspiration and excitement about the use of materials in a three dimensional setting. Exploring art did not only mean drawing and painting. In 1981, I packed off to Connecticut College and studied ceramics along with child development and history. Graduating in 1985 brought me back to New York City, where among other things, I sold lemonade on the streets and studied ceramics in private sculpture studios. Creating art remained in the background while pursuing Social and Community work, another passion, throughout the five Boroughs. Traveling was key after receiving two Masters Degrees in Social Work and Urban Planning from Columbia University and New York University. I traveled extensively throughout Mexico, Central and South America where I was deeply influenced by color, texture and forms observed there.
I moved to San Francisco in 1994, drawn there by the open land, light and ocean. I continued doing Community Work while contemplating new relationships between materials in my art. In 1997, I gave birth to the first of my 2 children - leading me to change my focus and to do art more full time. I am now moving into a direction inspired by the places and communities surrounding me, like Northern New Mexico and the areas around Abiquiu, where I spend a lot of time now. The traditions and culture of clay that exist there are very inspiring and help me integrate the natural world and the objects that inhabit it, into my work.
Goals now? 1) Create durable, unique, hand made functional pieces that rival the "Made in China" culture that is so pervasive. A "Slow-Dish" movement perhaps? 2) Make connections between community service and being creative. 3) Hang with my kids. 4) Embrace slow and local food. 5) Continue to enjoy lemonade.
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| Here is my studio-a converted chicken coop in the back of our 1886 Dairy Farmhouse..... in the middle of San Francisco ! |
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