Born in interior Alaska, I was fortunate to learn at an early age to observe the fascinating flora and fauna of the boreal forests, to draw, and to use the materials that were at hand to create art. Because the environment here is extreme from winter to summer, it suits (or guides?) my tendency to focus on sculptural pieces in my studio in winter, and to draw en plein air with pastels in summer.
Several experiences have guided my sensibilities about the visual world. Early experiences include: direct observation of Athabascan beadworkers, basketmakers and seamstresses which gave me a great appreciation for attention to detail and the use of local materials; an apprenticeship in industrial painting and sign painting, which made me acutely aware of the power of color and design; and extended foreign travel to European and African countries, which added a dimension of understanding for me not only of the visual world but of cultures and diversity.
Through academic studies in art, art history, arctic and sub-arctic archaeology, and
through experimentation, I have been prompted to contemplate time and relationships between species, including humans, and their northern environment through sculpture using materials such as bone, antler, leather, soft stone, quills, or beads. Subtle color is an important component of my work, perhaps because of the interesting light at these high latitudes, and the dominance of snow cover in winter. Pastels are a medium I discovered early, winning school art contests with works of pastel on paper. Drawing landscapes, wildlife, and other subjects in pastels has become my way of creating immediate impressions in distilled colors of sub-arctic seasons and animals, especially with the wonderful light in places I have come to admire. With training in drafting and archaeological illustration, as well as in studio art techniques, I find the use of pastels very satisfying for drawing and painting, and a straight-forward medium for transporting.
I am currently working on a Doctorate in Anthropology, and have a Master of Arts in Anthropology, with a minor in Fine Art. Part of my work in archaeology is in faunal studies, which has given me considerable appreciation for bone elements as form. Museum collections are also inspirational for observing joinery techniques such as stitching, tying and pinning; the artistic challenge is to create visual cohesiveness and balance from material diversity.
My work has been exhibited in juried shows in Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska since 1984, and is in many private collections in Alaska and numerous other states. A sculpture was recently purchased by the University of Alaska Museum of the North for inclusion in their permanent fine art collection.
