Current Work...much more coming (keep scrolling down for older work)

Artist Statement

personplacething

Everything is connected. I was raised with this notion and it is the most comforting message of spirituality I know. The end of a kiss is cell division, and our planet in orbit is an electron circling the nucleus. I have a great respect and awe for the theatricality of the natural world. The drama takes place so concurrently and constantly that we don't even notice how tremendous it is.
It feels natural to me to emulate different aspects of nature without categorizing them, blending them, honoring their related attributes. These new hybrids take on their own personas, they become like actors in a play and their characters develop. This is true even in the case of the landscape sculptures.
The encapsulated works reference the preservation of natural objects but are entirely manmade. They are installations and I envision them as composed theaters, complete with sets and costumes and a story. The theatrical inspiration is derived from the many years I spent building models, costumes and props for theater as well as the many years I have created narrative sculptures and installations.
These are the works of my personal mythologies; they come from my own experiences and from my rich dream life. I create them for the same reasons that all mythologies have been created-for explanations, comfort and spiritual relief.

"After This", 2009. Polymer Clay, Wire, Styrofoam, Glitter. 8.5"h x 14"w x 6"d.

"Cara Mia", 2009. Polymer Clay, Styrofoam, Fabric, Glitter, Craft Findings. 9"h x 6"w x 5"d.

"Once There Were Five", 2009. Polymer Clay, Styrofoam, Wood, Glitter. Variable Dimensions, largest piece is 8" diameter x 6" deep.

"Only You" (with and without vitrine), 2009. Polymer Clay, Styrofoam, Wood, Fabric, Rhinestones, Glitter, Nail Polish, Gold Leaf. Vitrine Size 9.5" diameter x 9"high.

"Time To Go", (with and without vitrine), 2009. Cast Plastic, Fabric, Styrofoam, Wood, Glitter. Vitrine Size 9.5" diameter x 9"high.

"We Can Rebuild It", (with and without vitrine), 2009. Polymer Clay, Wood, Styrofoam, Craft findings, Nail Polish. Vitrine Size 9.5" diameter x 9"high.

Recent but not new work

Planetary Surprise, 2009. Variable dimensions, Styrofoam, plaster, glitter and mixed media.

"We're Through Bein' Cool", 2008. Variable dimensions, Styrofoam, plaster, glitter and mixed media. (Installed at Milepost 5 Artists Community on left)

Uh-oh, 2008. Wood, wire, Styrofoam and latex paint. 4'h x 4'w x 1'd

Goodbye My Coney Island Baby (Stop-Motion Animation) watch movie

Vanishing Horse (Stop-Motion Animation) watch movie

Once Inherited (Stop-Motion Animation) watch movie

This Is Not About Sex (Stop-Motion Animation) watch movie

Official/Unofficial Goodwill Residency "Little Factory" (Stop-Motion Animation) watch movie

Tryon Creek Natural Cycles Project (Fung-Us) Watch Oregon ARTBEAT Segment

Read 2008 Tryon Creek Press-The Oregonian

Read 2008 Tryon Creek Review-The Portland Tribune

"Ms. Natural Disaster, 2007". (on the parade route in NYC/proposal drawing/ installed at The Helzer Gallery, PCC Rock Creek). 9 ft diameter. Styrofoam, balloons, fabric, mixed media. The costume was worn at the Deitch Art parade in New York City in 2007.

I made a 2008 costume but the parade was cancelled at the last minute and I haven't been able to document it properly.

"Kill! All! Bad!", 2006. (On site in the Willamette River). Shark is 9 ft in length, Styrofoam and mixed media. A marching band flag routine was performed to Stars and Stripes Forever which played on a CD player nearby.

"The Ecstasy of the Vagina Girl", 2006 7"h x 7"w x 22"l, ceramic, Styrofoam and mixed media. This piece was created for a group show of modern interpretations of world myths. This piece is based on the Apache story of how women were tamed from
man-eating tooth filled vaginas to their more demure current form.

"Love in the Wild", 2006 25' x 25' room installation with performance. Mixed media (including Styrofoam, glitter, cast plastic, plaster, ceramic, pipe cleaners and faux fur).

View 2006 review of "Love In the Wild" on PORT

View 2006 review of "Love In the Wild" from the Portland Mercury

"Something I didn't know about you..." 2005. Approximately 6' x 3'. Styrofoam, plaster bandage and glitter. This installation was constructed for this bath tub at the Jupiter Hotel for the "Affair at the Jupiter" art fair. It was an aesthetic study for the "Love in the Wild" installation.

"Last night I dreamt of you...", 2005. 20' x 20' room sized installation. Pictured here: The large wolf is carved Styrofoam covered in synthetic fur. The table is reconfigured from a vintage table with a miniature scale wood planked top. The figurines are polymer clay and wax. This installation was created as a thesis project for my MFA from Portland State University.

(Right) Last night I dreamt of you...", 2005. detail. This piece is titled "How it Must Have Happened". Polymer clay and wax. 6.5"h x variable dimensions.

Images from Graduate School: (Left) Charring a body cast for an Installation at Contemporary Crafts Museum, (Middle) A model based on dream imagery, (Right) A still from the performance document of "Errands"

Installation Work Before Graduate School:

(Left to Right)

"Guardian", 2002. The piece is life sized. White Figure is cast foam with mixed media. Squirrel is ceramic.Wasps are cast plastic. The entire installation was 10'h x 13'w x 9'd. This piece was made for the Portland Building Installation as part of the Regional Arts & Culture Council public art program.

Untitled Installation, 2001. 7' x 3'. The piece was displayed on the floor. This detail shows
a white snake made of cast porcelain, the cast fiberglass base figure and rocks and sand.
This piece was made for my first show at Blackfish Gallery

."Breeder", 2001. This detail shows: Rabbits are made of cast foam. The hill is cast foam and Astroturf with Easter decorations. Each of the 10 rabbits stand 23" high. The entire installation was 11'h x 6'w x 6'd. This piece was made for my first show at Blackfish Gallery.

"Beasts of Burden", 1999. Cast foam, cast plaster, steel scaffolding. 10' x 10' x 10'. This piece was created as a thesis project for my BFA at Pacific Northwest College of Art.