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
2017 Oliver Art Center, Bugs, Birds and Beasts, Frankfort, MI
Sensory Winery & Gallery, Beyond Boundaries, Ripley, MI
Ella Sharp Museum, 100 Sculptors/100 Sculptures, Jackson, MI
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 Side 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
Side Door Gallery, Dexter, MI
Collections
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
Grosse Pointe Public Library
Saline District Library
Purdue University, Northwest
Prairie Elementary School, Adrian, MI
numerous private collections
Teaching and Organizational Experience
Artist in Residence, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Chesterton, IN 2015
Artist in Residence, Homestead National Monument, Beatrice, NE, 2014
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, Salt Valley Arts/Saline Community Ed, 2016 - now, watercolors, various media
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
Juror, Rosewood Gallery; Brighton Arts Guild; Adrian College; Muskegon Community College; Lenawee Council for Visual Arts
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
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