Artist Statement

I don’t believe my art is specifically autobiographical, 

but each piece does reflect my life in some small way. References to the natural world draw upon a childhood spent in the border city of El Paso, Texas where the sky dominates the urban landscape, and the desert reveals the Earth’s rugged texture. The layering of wool and thread reflects my training as a painter. Finally, thoughts about the nature of time, the environment, and the conflict between information and emotion, loss and community have found their way into my art. Sometimes overtly. Sometimes quietly. 

Making felt is a physical, sometimes messy, pursuit. 

Lay down the wool roving. Perhaps add some silk. Always add plenty of soapy water and massage vigorously until the fibers begin to interlock. Then roll and pound the wet bundle of wool until it is transformed into a sturdy, non-woven textile.  Making a piece of cloth from disorganized wool fibers is almost an act of magic.  

In contrast, embroidery is quiet and organized – 

the perfect counterbalance to felt-making. 

I like combining wool and stitch, two “soft” mediums, with something hard. The hard elements are like carefully chosen adjectives or adverbs…they add dimension and an unexpected quality to a piece.