2D and 3D art to supplement your life
Artist's Statement, an overview
At any given time I have several different bodies of work going in my studio – it's a way of working that opens doors to more ideas and problem-solving for me. I work in 2-D, 3-D and relief methods and I use the materials that best help me explore and communicate the idea at the time. I consider this way of working as a translation of ideas from media to media.
Much like translating a language, an idea can change slightly - or a great deal - when expressed in a different language/media. Those changes that happen through the translation – the ones that make me hand over control to the process and blur the line between what I'm making happen and what the material demands - are the Zen moments when a piece of art can take on a life of its own.
Pattern, texture,color, line and shadow interest me, as well as, pushing the boundaries of possibility with materials. Humor definitely has a role in my work. Sometimes I express humor in my combination of materials, colors, concept or title. After all, it is fun to make art - and to be able to approach the world with balance and humor is a necessity.
Education
MFA, Sculpture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 1989-91
BFA, Painting, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL 1985-89
Selected Exhibitions
2025
Indianapolis Art Center, upcoming solo exhibit
2024
Indiana University East, 46th Annual White River Valley Competition, Richmond, IN
Crooked Tree Center for the Arts, Times 2, Traverse City, MI, first place
Haggin Museum, 62nd Stockton Art LeagueJuried Exhibit, Stockton, CA
Grayling Center for the Arts, Great Northern Art Explosion, Grayling, MI
Indianapolis Art Center, Art from the Heartland, Indianapolis, IN, curator's choice
The Art Barn School of Art, 30th Annual Juried Atlrt Exhibit, Valparaiso, IN
Anton Art Center, Michigan Annual LI, Mt. Clemens, MI, first place
Modern Visual Arts Gallery, Nat’l Portraits, Animal & Human, Bethlehem, PA
Del Mar College, Annual Nat’l Drawing & Small Sculpture Show, Corpus Christi, TX
Tubac Center for the Arts, Arizona Aqueous XXXVIII, Tubac, AZ
2023
Adrian Center for the Arts, Good Grief, Adrian, MI, solo
22 North, Good Grief, Ypsilanti, MI solo show
Gateway Nat’l Rec Area/Rockaway Artist Alliance, School’s Out For Summer (School’s Out Forever), Rockaway Beach, NY
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Good Grief, Birmingham, MI solo show
WSG Gallery, Movement and Stillness, Ann Arbor, MI solo show
Viridian Gallery, 32nd Annual Int’l Juried Exhibition, New York, NY director’s choice
2022
San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center, Uncommon Threads, Tarzana, CA
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, Here & Now, Hamilton, OH Juror’s Choice Award
Indiana University East Galleries, 44th Whitewater Valley Art Competition, Richmond, IN
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham, MI President’s Award
Kavanagh Gallery, On The Wing, St.Charles, IL Honorable Mention
Indiana Dunes National Park, Dune Birds in Art 2022, Chesterton, IN
2021
Glen Arbor Arts Center, Everyday Objects, Glen Arbor, MI
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham, MI
Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum, Regional Biennial Sculpture Exhibition, Saginaw, MI
Old Courthouse Arts Center, 34th Women’s Works, Woodstock, IL
Scarab Club, Gilda Snowden Memorial Show, Detroit, MI
Emerge Gallery and Art Center, Down East National Sculpture Exhibition, Greenville, NC, honorable mention
2020
Emerge Gallery and Art Center, Down East National Sculpture Exhibition, Greenville, NC, 1st place
Indiana Dunes National Park, Dune Birds in Art, Chesterton, IN
Buchanan Center for the Arts, 64 Arts, Monmouth, IL
Kavanagh Gallery, Voices of the Midwest, St. Charles, IL, merit award
Janice Charach Gallery (projected), 73rd Annual Michigan Watercolor Society Exhibition, West Bloomfield, MI
Cherry Hill Theater Gallery, When There are Nine, Canton, MI
Scarab Club, Gilda Snowden Memorial Exhibition, Detroit, MI
2019
Space One Eleven, We Dare Defend Our Rights, Birmingham, AL
Kerrytown Concert House, group show, Ann Arbor, MI
22 North, Dear Womanhouse, Ypsilanti, MI
WSG gallery, Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy, Ann Arbor, MI (solo)
2018
Art Kettle, Dear Womanhouse, What Now?, Manchester, MI
Indiana University East, 40th Annual Whitewater Valley Art Competition, Richmond, IN
Prairie Arts Council, State of the Art: Art of the State, Renssalaer, IN
Ann Arbor Art Center, Rinse/Repeat, Ann Arbor, MI
Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, Regional Biennial Juried Sculpture Exhibition, University Center, MI
Erie Art Museum, 95th Spring Show, Erie, PA, merit award
Swords into Plowshares Gallery, Guns in the Hands of Artists, Detroit, MI
Circle of Arts, Chasing The Running Stitch, Charlevoix, MI
2017
Art Prize 9, 'The Gun Show' at RIchard App Gallery at City Water Bldg, Grand Rapids, MI
Oliver Art Center, Bugs, Birds and Beasts, Frankfort, MI
Arts Longmont Gallery, EcoCreations 8, Longmont, CO
Sensory Winery & Gallery, Beyond Boundaries, Ripley, NY
2016
WSG gallery, The Gun Show, solo, Ann Arbor, MI
Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, Regional Biennial Juried Sculpture Exhibition, University Center, MI
Museum of New Art, Detroit Biennale, Armada, MI
Museum Museum of Art, 88th Annual Regional Exhibition, Muskegon, MI
Ella Sharp Museum, 100 Sculptures, 100 Sculptors, Jackson, MI
212 Arts Center, Observations, solo, Saline, MI
2015
South Bend Museum of Art, Regional Biennial 28, South Bend, IN
Muskegon Community College, Cycles, collaborative w/Monica Wilson, Muskegon, MI
Tubac Center for the Arts, Arte de Avian, Tubac, AZ, Best of Show
Anton Center for the Arts, Michigan Annual XLII , Mt. Clemens, MI, third place award
Arts Longmont, EcoCreations 6, Longmont, CO
2014
Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Invasive Species, Michigan City, IN
Sylvia White Gallery, Collectors' Choice, Ventura, CA
Community House, Our Town, Birmingham, MI
2013
WSG gallery, The Real Cinderella Dress and Other Recent Work, (solo) Ann Arbor, MI
University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources, The Bird Show, (solo) Ann Arbor, MI
Paint Creek Ctr. for the Arts, Thirty Years & Counting, Rochester, MI
2012
Community House, Our Town, Birmingham, MI
Work Gallery: University of Michigan, I Know You're There, But Who Am I, Ann Arbor, MI
Gifts Of Art, Right Tool for the Job, University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI
Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum, Regional Biennial Sculpture Exhibition, Saginaw, MIHonorable Mention
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham, MI
Anton Art Center, Annual All-Michigan XXXVIII, Mt. Clemens, MI
2011
WSG Gallery, Evening Gowns for the Midwestern Woman (solo), Ann Arbor, MI
Community House, Our Town, Birmingham, MIBest of Show
2010
Kunsthalle Tubingen, WSG Artists in Tubingen, Tubingen, Germany
Muskegon Community College, Self/Awareness (solo), Muskegon, MI
WSG Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI
2009
WSG Gallery, Fortunes and Other Work (solo), Ann Arbor, MI
Judith Racht Gallery, Dee -Lightful, Harbert, MI
Paint Creek Center for the Arts, Rochester, MI
Signature Gallery, Kalamazoo, MI (collaborative work with Barbara Yerace)
2008 S
ide Door Gallery, Fortunes (solo), Dexter, MI
Rosewood Arts Centre Gallery, HxWxD, Kettering, OH
Downriver Council for the Arts, Collaborative Constructions, Taylor, MI(collaborative work w/Barbara Yerace)
2007
212 Arts Center, Practice (solo), Saline, MI
Rosewood Arts Centre Gallery, HxWxD, Kettering, OH award of merit
WSG Gallery, 12x12, Ann Arbor, MI
Smart Shop, Glass Month, Kalamazoo, MI (collaborative work w/Barbara Yerace)
2006
Lenawee Council for Visual Arts, ReCYCLE, Adrian, MI
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham, MI
2005
Fitton Center for the Arts, The Domestic Arts (solo), Hamilton, OH
Buckham Gallery, Functionally Functional, (featured show), Flint, MI
2004
University of Michigan, Pierpont Commons (solo), Ann Arbor, MI
Concordia University, Glass Connections, 2-person show w/Barbara Yerace, Ann Arbor, MI
The Community House, Our Town, Birmingham, MI juror's award
Downriver Council for the Arts, 1x2: Artists Collaborate, w/Barbara Yerace, Taylor, MI
2003
South Haven Center for the Arts (solo), South Haven, MI
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham, MI
Oakland County Office of Arts, Culture & Film, Glass Art 2003, w/ Barbara Yerace, Pontiac, MI first place
2002
Ella Sharp Museum, Women in Glass, collaborative w/ Barbara Yerace, Jackson, MI
University of Michigan, Gifts of Art, collaborative w/Barbara Yerace, Ann Arbor, MI
The Community House, Our Town, collaborative w/Barbara Yerace, Birmingham, MI best of show
2001
Dublin Arts Council, Translations in Texture (two-person), Dublin, OH
Coconino Center for the Arts, ArtCultureNature, Flagstaff, AZ
2000
Ann Arbor District Library, Letters, Quilts and Kids (solo), Ann Arbor, MI
Galerie Blu, Recent Works, Pontiac, MI
1999
Indiana State University, Passages (two-person), Terre Haute, IN
1998
McHenry County College (solo), Crystal Lake, IL
South Bend Regional Mus. Of Art, Midwest Sculpture Exhibition, South Bend, IN merit award, purchase award
Detroit Arists Market, Undefining Sculpture, Detroit, MI
1997
Paint Creek Center for the Arts, MotherSculptin'Wifeypoo (solo), Rochester, MI
Jay County Arts Council, Woman's Work (solo), Portland, IN
Greater Lafayette Museum of Art, Rural Routes (three-person), Lafayette, IN
Ann Arbor Art Center, Just Corn (two-person), Ann Arbor, MI
1996
Matrix Gallery, Landmarks (solo), Ann Arbor, MI
Paint Creek Center for the Arts, 10th Annual Celebrate Michigan Artists, Rochester, MI best of show
A.R.C. Gallery, A.R.C. Regional, Chicago, IL
Fernwood Botanic Garden, Outdoor Sculpture Competition, Niles, MI
1995
A.R.C. Gallery, Valerie Mann, Farm Girl, Chicago, IL
Fernwood Botanic Garden, Outdoor Sculpture Invitational , Niles, MI
ACME Art Co. (two person), Columbus, OH
1994
Michigan Heart and Vascular Institute (solo), Ypsilanti, MI
Detroit Artists Market, FORE!, collaborative mini-golf hole w/Cherna Bednarsh, Detroit, MI
1993
Artemisia Gallery (solo), Chicago, IL
Lansing Art Gallery, Michigan All Media, Lansing, MI outstanding 3D award
1992
St. Xavier University Gallery, Continuum (solo), Chicago, IL
University of Wyoming, Form and Object (traveling exhibit), Laramie, WY
Gallery Lambton, Look 92, Sarnia, ONTARIO
1991 Florida State University, Florida National, Tallahassee, FL
1990 I.M. Pei's City Hall, Common Ground: New Directions, Dallas, TX
1989 South Bend Regional Museum of Art, Her Art Show, South Bend, IN best of show
Gallery Representation
WSG Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI
Castle Gallery Fine Art, Fort Wayne, IN
Juror Experience
Women’s Caucus for the Arts, MI Chapter
Adrian Center for the Arts, Adrian, MI
Ann Arbor Art Fair, Ann Arbor, MI
Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, MI
Rosewood Gallery, Dayton, OH
Brighton Arts Guild, Brighton, MI
Adrian College, Adrian, MI
Muskegon Community College, Muskegon, MI
Lenawee Council for Visual Arts, Adrian, MI
Collections
UMMA, University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, MI
Google, Ann Arbor, MI
South Bend Museum of Art
Avalon Housing (Carrot Way), Ann Arbor, MI, public sculpture
Hercules Apartments, Hercules, CA
St.Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ypsilanti, MI
Bennett Optometry, Ann Arbor, MI
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Chesterton, IN
Homestead National Monument, Beatrice, NE
Parkview Hospital, Ft. Wayne, IN
Muskegon Community College, Muskegon, MI
Grosse Pointe Public Library, Grosse Pointe, MI
Saline District Library, Saline, MI
Purdue University, Northwest, IN
Prairie Elementary School, Adrian, MI
numerous private collections
Teaching and Organizational Experience
Artist in Residence, Glen Arbor Arts Center, Glen Arbor, MI, summer 2022
Instructor, Washtenaw Community College, 2018-now
3D Instructor, University of Michigan Stamps School of Art, pre-college summer program, Ann Arbor, MI, 2019
Steering Committee for establishing a non-profit, Salt Valley Arts, Saline, MI, 2016 - now
Artist in Residence, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Chesterton, IN 2015
Artist in Residence, Homestead National Monument, Beatrice, NE, 2014
Instructor, Salt Valley Arts/Saline Community Ed, 2016 - now, watercolors, various media
Visiting Artist/ Instuctor, Telling It, U of Mich. At-Risk Arts Program, 2009 - now
Guest Speaker, University of Mich, School of Social Work, 2010 - now
Instructor, 212 Arts Center, Saline, MI 2006 - 2016, watercolors, mixed media, special projects
Sculpture Instructor, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Twin Lake, Michigan, 2013 season
Coordinator, Circle of Art, fund-raiser for Food Gatherers, Saline, MI 2004-2014
Art Instructor, COPE, alternative ed high school program, Ypsilanti, MI2008, 2010-2012
Visiting Artist, Honey Creek Community School, Ann Arbor, MI 2006 – 2012
Board Member, Saline Men's Waterpolo, Saline, MI, 2011 - 2013
Adjunct Instructor, sculpture, Adrian College, Adrian, MI 2005-08
Coordinator, Artists Among Us lecture series and book acquisition project, Saline Dist. Lib. 96-2007
Coordinator, Black History Month Lecture Series, Saline Dist. Lib. 2000-07
Visiting Artist, Saline Alternative Ed. High School, Saline, MI, 2001-02 academic year, Indiana State University 1/99
Committee Member, Reproductive Health Advisory Committee, Saline Schools 2001-07
Art Instructor, Oak Trails Montessori, Ann Arbor, MI 1992-94, 1998
Education Director, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, MI 1993-4
Teaching and Research Assistant, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 1990-1
Gallery Intern, Zolla Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL 1988