I think of myself as a reconstructive caretaker with my practice focusing on re-imagining the neglected and the forgotten. Most of my material comes from investigating and recycling people’s discarded images and objects. I manipulate these materials and weave them into new imaginary stories.
Often the transformative process incorporates hand building, hand stitching, beading, and folding. The work materializes from these methodical, repetitive techniques, which naturally are meditative and contemplative. Many of my ancestors spent their lifetime working with their hands doing piece work, brick laying, quilting and baking.
Traveling in a number of Asian countries I marvel at the offerings being prepared daily. The creation and short life of the offering is such an act of devotion. I think of my practice as having a sense of reverence. I honor the discarded – book, diary, photograph, letter.
I feel a sense of responsibility and respect, as I re-work the ephemeral, for what it was, the use it served, the people to whom it was useful and the short time we are here on earth surrounding ourselves with these things.
selected exhibitions
2022
Arts Benicia, Gems V, Benicia, CA
2020
Solo Show
Revised Editions: Wenatchee Valley College, MAC Gallery, Wenatchee, WA
2019
Bound & Unbound Five: International Juried Exhibition, University of South Dakota
Follow The Thread: Sally Grover Gallery, Bainbridge Island Museum, Bainbridge, WA
Freed Formats: the book reconsidered, Traveling Exhibition 8 venues in Connecticut and New York state
TEXT: Ann Street Gallery, Newburgh, NY
Child’s Play: Foundry Art Center, St. Charles, MO
2019
Freed Formats: the book reconsidered, Traveling Exhibition 8 venues in Connecticut and New York state
Child’s Play, Foundry Art Center, St. Charles, MO
2018
Books Undone, The Art of the Altered Book, The Gallery at Penn College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA
Paper/Work, Salmon Library Gallery, University of Alabama, ALWCA
2016
Bound & Unbound, International Juried Exhibition, University of South Dakota
Poet and The Bench, Mill Valley, California
2015
The Contained Narrative: The Book as Object, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Observations and Collections, Colorado State University, Haddon Gallery, Ft. Collins, CO
2014
(n) Collage (n)=”new”, Petaluma Art Center, Petaluma, CA
Small Works,Small Place, The Wounded General Store, Inverness Park, CA
My Life As A Dog, Gallery 1650, Los Angeles, CA
2013
50th Annual Juried Exhibition, Masur Museum, Monroe, LA
Dog Days of Summer, Gravers Lane Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Skin Trade, P.P.O.W., New York, NY
Small Works, Small Space, Wounded General Store, Inverness Park, CA
Peaceable Kingdom: Real & Imagined, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
2012
Keeping Time, Kala, Berkeley, CA
2011
Uncommon Threads, 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, OR
Chain Letter, Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2010
Wish You Were Here, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
This Is My Education, The Supply; Openhouse Gallery, NYC
Art of the Book, Donna Seager Gallery, San Rafael, CA
From Our Studios, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA
2009
Family Pictures, Root Division, Gallery 3175, San Francisco, CA
Detritus, Soap Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Valentine Show, Barbara Anderson Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2007
Other People’s Memories, Mendocino College, Ukiah, CA
Berkeley Art Center’s 24th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Berkleley, CA
Head Trip, Barbara Anderson Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Artists at Work, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL
Alumni at the Centennial, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
Valentine Show, Barbara Anderson Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Second Annual Book Exhibition, Donna Seager Gallery, San Rafael, CA
2006
Dog Show, Barbara Anderson Gallery, Berkeley, CA
Embroidered Stories, Knitted Tales, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
Sampling Oakland, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
Virology, Lowbot Gallery, Oakland, CA
San Diego 1st National Juried Exhibition, University of California, San Diego, CA
By the Hand, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
Artfully Reclaimed, Northern California Art League, Novato, CA
Voxumenta , Philadelphia, PA
Reclaim, auto 321, Oakland, CA
2005
Calendar Show, San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco, CA
the pet show, auto, Oakland, CA
1⁄2 century celebration, Thornhill, Oakland, CA
2004
Build, WORKS, San Jose, CA
Calendar Show, San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco, CA
2003
MFA Thesis, California College of Arts & Crafts, San Francisco, CA
Consumerism, Second City Council, Long Beach, CA
2001
Statewide Book Arts Competition and Exhibition, Triton Museum of Art, San Jose, CA
2000
What is Reading?, San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco, CA
An Interactive Environment for Exploring, WORKS, San Jose, CA
1999
Books, Maps, Journals,
Playing with Matches,
Book Works Exhibition,
1998
Imprint-Prints-Printed Word, Miramonte Arts Center, Moraga, CA
1992
Hand Bookbinders of California, San Francisco Craft & Folk Museum, San Francisco,CA
education
MFA, Printmaking,
California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
BFA, Graphic Design,
Stephens College, Columbia, MO
bibliography
2013
Skin Trade, Larry List and Martha Wilson
2012
Thread Loves Paper, Contemporary Artist Books, Emily Marks
2011
Uncommon Threads: The Handicrafts in Book Arts, Laura Russell
2009
Shotgun Review, Elizabeth Johnson, March 26, 2009
2008
Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA Mills College, Oakland, CA
Pacific Center for the Book, San Francisco, CA
Studio Visit, The Open Studio Press, Volume 1
2006
Sampling Oakland, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
public collections
University of Washington Special Collections Library, Seattle, WA Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Bainbridge, WA
residencies
2019
Morris Graves Foundation, Loleta, CA
2014
deYoung Museum, Kimball Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Morris Graves Foundation, Loleta, CA
professional experience
1991-present
Decorative Painter and Color Consultant
2011
Visiting Artist, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
Teacher, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA
2010
Drawing Teacher/Volunteer, St. Mary’s Center, Oakland, CA
Teacher, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA
2009
Visiting Artist/Volunteer, Creative Growth, Oakland, CA
2008
Visiting Artist/Volunteer, Creative Growth, Oakland, CA
Visiting Artist, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
2007
Visiting Artist, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
Visiting Artist, Creative Growth, Oakland, CA
2006
Visiting Artist, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
2005
Visiting Artist, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
Extended Education, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
Visiting artist/teacher, Agusan del Sur, Philippines
2004
Fostering Art Program, Guest Instructor, San Francisco, CA
Extended Education, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
Pre-College Class, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
9th Grade Atelier, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA
2003
Extended Education, California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA 2002
After School Arts Program, Claremont Junior High, Oakland, CA