Mosaics, Mosaic Jewelry & Glass Fusion
Artistic work for me is a metaphor for living a satisfying, balanced, and harmonious life. It is important to explore the elements that work and fit together, discard, or transform what doesn’t, and keep going deeper, ever changing, and discovering. It is my hope that my artistic creations telegraph and inspire that sense of depth, harmony, and balance. I begin each project by gathering materials; different sizes and shapes of glass, ceramic tiles, semi-precious stones, charms, beads, buttons, and small found objects. I assemble a design considering placement of color, patterns, and texture. I may form a piece of mosaic jewelry with a representation of a bird’s feather, flowing water, or an abstract landscape design. If the artwork is only made of glass, I fire it in a glass kiln where more transformation takes place through the application of heat. Different degrees of heat can alter the glass surface textures from dimensional to completely smooth. I also bend the glass into shapes. It is exciting to witness how a fired glass piece can transform its appearance simply by changing its light source. Some transparent colors can dissolve and become clear, or transition into a blaze of full-blown intensity. I currently serve as an organizational leader for the Fire and Light Glass Guild, part of The Arts Center in Corvallis, Oregon. I am a member of the Artists’ Studio Association in Lincoln City. In 2018, I became a Member-At-Large with the ASA Board. Finally, I have been a member of the Oregon Glass Guild for over 10 years.