I studied Art at the University of Southern Indiana and then at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, IL where I received a MFA in Fibers and Art History. I have been working as the arts and education director at Patchwork Central in Evansville, for 15 years.
I work with inner city youth ages 6-18 in after school and summer arts programs. Together we use the arts to build community and I love the exuberance of these kids, their spontaneity and enjoy teaching them to I see the world around them in new ways. I try to nurture their creativity and challenge them to create with clay, handmade paper and the recycled materials that are available to us on any given day.
I enjoy making art with the children from the neighborhood, who often bring me interesting items they find themselves, while walking through our city’s streets. I like to feel I am helping to create a new generation of redeemers who will look at life in new creative ways.
My latest project has been to teach jewelry at USI. I am happy to work with a group of artists who have been an inspiration to me. I am also excited to work with the students at the University, as we explore both jewelry and metals together, we are all learning as we go.
I get really excited about finding a resource that is abundant! Vintage cutlery, bicycle tire inner tubes and the metal from soda pop cans are my current passions. For years, I have been collecting bits of this and that, old junk drawer kind of stuff, broken things, shiny things, stuff I find on the street while walking. There is nothing like the patina of a partially rusted, partially shiny smashed bottle cap or piece of metal - run over by cars with the pavement texture ground into it. Lately, I have been enjoying working with found metals and semi precious stones.
|
|
|
