New Artist Statement

This work reflects my interest in the body, and the internal systems, which communicate, connect and contribute to the figure as a whole.  I am interrogating the form, pushing the boundaries of what is considered human until that layer of humanness falls away and allows something deeper to emerge.  The body is composed of an amalgamation of bones, tissues and organs that all strive to sustain the body much like a community.  I am fascinated by these communities within the body and often play with these forms through dissection, until a far more primal or animal reference emerges.

Epic Fail

Well, I had an idea to have a spine with fabric acting as the fascia and it fell flat. (I blame the fabric!) I really don't like it, it doesn't even look like something I would make it repels me so.  However, I did make two sets of metal horns that were originally going to act as ends of vertebrae but now I think I might keep them for something else.  Good idea, bad outcome.  Maybe I'll make the horns into claws and attach them to a piece of wood I have around my studio and make a scary paw with metal claws.  I have no idea, this didn't help me feel better about getting enough images for MFA applications.

New Artist Statement

My work explores the many varieties of anatomical structures within vertebrates and invertebrates.  I wish to address the many issues surrounding these bodies: such as mortality, function and decay.  By investigating the complex structures I allow myself freedom to play and permit changes to occur within my pieces.  The metal is most often metaphorical for armor, which protects the vulnerable insides.  I enjoy seeing how these organic structures function, and welcome the challenge of pounding, cutting and scraping a similar structure out of my materials.  I am currently experimenting with other organic materials such as stone and animal remains to broaden my understanding of anatomy.  Creating a space where two separate materials can compliment each other is an interesting puzzle to me. These structures come more easily to me in their three-dimensional forms.

New carving

This is a piece I have been working on for a while, I want to mix carving and metal to create a reference to an organic bone structure.  I took some inspiration from the bone like plates from a stegosaurus.  However, I worry that the plates reference leaves more than bone.  I am currently still in the process of finishing the piece, I will try to have a great deal of it completed for Thesis.

Here is the sketch I made after encountering a moment of inspiration.  In the beginning I had thought of the carving to reference fins, however fins slowly faded to plates.

 This is the first fin/plate I carved, I used cedar wood to create these.  Cedar is plentiful in the woodshop  and thick enough for me and my "digging" method of carving.  I am having some difficulties with this type of wood since it is a softer than ash.  I have to be more aware of my tools and where the grain is.

This is the second plate I am working on, I am going for a thinner look and I am also thinking of making the plates connect in many different degrees, not only flat against the wall.

This is the spine portion that the plates will connect to.  I enjoyed carving the piece without any sort of preconceived idea about what I wanted to carve.  ( I only hope it looks like a bone).

Proper Documentation

These are pieces completed thus far in the Thesis course, the photography and editing was done with the guidance of Professor Ron Mills.  Thank goodness because I didn't have a clue and my photos were shameful.  Anyway these photos are high quality and I would love to allow others to see.