About
I am a local artist based in Erie, PA I work in the medium of found art created from marine litter and natural materials I have harvested from the shores of Lake Erie. I labor to reveal the extraordinary character in each timeworn piece of debris. When possible, I also repurpose secondhand items in my artwork. My aim is to create something meaningful that will move you and help you unmask the beauty in life's flotsam and jetsam.
I’m always challenging myself to see the potential art in things that are unwanted, overlooked and not recognized as having artistic value. The materials I use can range from birch and driftwood, sea glass, pebbles, recycled wooden objects, recycled jewelry pieces and other secondhand objects that I collect and combine with media such as adhesives, watercolors and pyrography.
I see a piece of driftwood as an angel wing, a mermaid body or a heron head and love to explore ways to construct sculptures using the shape and form of the wood. To me, a worn, stained or burnt cutting board is a perfect pyrography canvas. I juxtapose an outdated piece of jewelry with a slice of wood-burned birch for a unique contrast that updates the piece. Experimenting with tiny pebbles, sea glass and shells, I’m able to piece together a tiny vignette that captures a familiar scene that evokes emotion and connects with the viewer.
I believe that reusing objects not only helps to eliminate waste, it also creates art from something that would otherwise be discarded or ignored. My desire is to rehabilitate these objects so that they tell a new story or reveal a new identity as part of a piece of art.