This most recent series of sculptures is inspired by the expressiveness of animals. Our desire as humans to transfer our emotions on to animals to communicate and understand ourselves is eternal. Transposing human and animal forms in design and myth has been employed by both ancient and contemporary cultures resulting in images that illustrate behaviors, convey emotions, and create identities. At times enigmatic, these forms resonate on an emotional level that transcends words and worlds. I am particularly interested in Northwest Coast Indian Art and the design principles of the Art Nouveau Movement. While very different from each other, they are both deeply informed stylistically by Nature.

Incorporating my earlier found object assemblage work with traditional metalworking I am finding a new voice as an artist. Through apprenticeships I have been trained to be a blacksmith. In pursuing this applied art, I have found the scraps and leftover bits of metal, or sometimes the individual parts of another project, capture my imagination and identify themselves to me as potential components of new sculptures. The challenging engineering required to join disparate metals and materials inspires me. Working with a series, such as bird forms and mask motif, affords me the opportunity to explore all the different ideas that arise during the creation of a new piece. Through repetition I find inspiration.