In my work I explore the fine line between traditional craft -- mending, fixing, sewing -- and fine art, while simultaneously making a conceptual commentary about human relationships.
In my large scale installations, encaustic paintings, and small found object collages, I employ elements of the detritus of generations of women’s domestic work: dress patterns, lace, thread, pins, buttons, rope, personal correspondence, and more. In some pieces, pencil drawings or graphic messages are woven, stitched, or sewn into the body of the piece offering conceptual underpinnings to the works. My work is often sewn on paper, painted on gesso board, or built out of domestic found objects.
Currently, I am exploring unique application and use of encaustic. This ancient medium comprises melted beeswax combined with a small amount of damar varnish. The heated wax is applied to a ground while in its molten state and as the liquid cools, the wax dries hard. I often draw or sew into the cooled wax or pepper the surface with oil or powdered pigment. Rich in surface texture, these sculptural objects and paintings are also subtle in visual layering. My pieces often possess a penetrating conceptual message created by the layering of typed messages. In some cases, the title of work is a key to its conceptual yearnings. My work often represents conversations about my family, past and present, as well as my ongoing struggle to reconcile my personal tension between traditional craft and fine art. The long devalued work of mothers and wives to mend, fix, quilt, sew, and knit are often considered simply domestic chores. At best, they are judged as ‘craft’ but are certainly not considered ‘fine art.’ In my work, I elevate “loving hands at home” or conventional women’s work to that of fine art. Much of my work is built on the simple square format reminiscent of the basic quilting block. I explore scale and repetition which is much like the consistently invisible and overwhelmingly repetitive nature of the domestic world of mothers and wives. My art is reminiscent of conventional women’s work and speaks to my connections with past generations of women and my present place within my own family. Simply put, my work reflects conversations about relationships.
After graduating with formal training as a fine artist at Phillips Academy, Andover, I received a BA in Studio Art from Brown University with a double minor in Women’s Studies and Cultural Anthropology. My graduate degree is from Rhode Island School of Design. For nearly 30 years I have struggled with my desire to knit, sew, and weave. By reaching through my past, I am able to marry my fine art with my passion for traditional craft. My work is presently exhibited throughout New England and held in private collections – both national and international. Please contact me via my website for information about upcoming shows, prices on available work, and possible commissions.
