My work in recent years has reflected global psychological pain. The pandemic, environmental crises, and political manipulation have torn relationships apart across our world. People no longer trust one another and mental health issues are on the rise. Some of my totems are metaphors for the psyche’s need to protect itself, at the cost of intimacy. Others represent the inherent dangers of disregarding the health of our environment. Some symbolize bioterrorism, along with the politicization of public health issues. Although the body of work here is a statement of warning, there is also a wish for hope and progress.
16Wx7.5Hx1D”. Smalti, stone, glass tile on fiberglass mesh.
Boundaries was inspired by a metaphor used by Freud and Arthur Schopenhauer. The Porcupine Dilemma describes a situation in which a group of porcupines try to move closer together one to keep from freezing yet cannot due to their spines. This reflects the boundaries of human relationships, where intimacy can can also contain feelings of aversion and hostility.
21Hx7Wx3D”. Tinted resin, tinted mortar, 1 mm glass rods on ceramic base.
Tribute to Bonnard is as stained glass mosaic, inspired by the works of Pierre Bonnard. I am especially enamored with the Fauvist color palette often seen in Bonnard's paintings. I wanted to capture the rich light and hues of the Provencal coast in this piece.
36Hx20W”. Stained glass mosaic.
24Hx30W”. Stained glass mosaic.
Rebirth was conceived when my son and I discovered some bones while kayaking off Great Island in Wellfleet harbor. Repurposing materials has been a strong component in all of my work, I incorporate found materials such as beach glass, driftwood, stone and ceramic into my mosaic sculptures. Rebirth celebrates a new found life and continuing legacy from a past life. What is lost is found again, to everything there is a season, it is always darkest before the dawn.
36Wx20H”
Stained glass mosaic. 26Wx 23H”.
Stained glass-on-glass mosaic. 16Wx20H”. In private collection.
12Wx12H” Stained glass mosaic. In private collection.
Backlit, glass-on-glass mosaic. 16Wx20H”. In private collection.
Stained glass mosaic, 30H x 27W”. Floyd Morris, aka Floyd the Clamdigger, was an icon of Gloucester, Massachusetts during the 1960s-70s. He was often seen strolling Stacey Boulevard with his clamming equipment, offering to sell his services. Floyd not only represented the hard scrabble working community of Gloucester, he also was a sad reminder of the homeless, mentally ill and disenfranchised. As a small child living across the street from the Fisherman’s Statue monument on the boulevard, I would often see Floyd. My mother was always kind to him, modeling for us empathy during a time when mental illness and addiction was highly stigmatized. I wanted to honor his memory in a mosaic portrait as my small part in continuing to create awareness and empathy for those suffering from mental illness and addiction.
24W x 18H”. Mixed media mosaic. Stained glass, glass beads, slate.
12x12”. Stained glass mosaic.
12Hx12W”. Italian smalti. In private collection.
12Wx18H”. Stained glass mosaic. In private collection.
12x18”. In private collection.
5x10”. In private collection.
Stained glass mosaic, 12 x 12”
34Hx 18Wx5D”. Mixed media lighted wall sculpture. Resin, dal de verre glass, seaglass, beach findings on fiberglass base. Metamorphosis explores reuse, repurposing and recycling. With particular emphasis on plastic waste and its impact on the environment, recent years have seen a marked disregard to address the need to keep our lands and waters clean and sustainable. There is hope for change.
19” diameter. Tinted resin, stone, millifiore glass, Italian smalti on fiberglass/styrofoam base. Macro/Micro was inspired by a enlarged microscopic image of a beetle’s foot. The lush colors of miniature worlds fascinates and invites ever further exploration. Macro/Micro celebrates my love of nature and its whimsey within.
Adipose, 18x24" mixed media. Heat-formed plexiglass, woven large format photography, tempered glass, mirror, epoxy resin, fluorescent and luminescent glass tiles and pigments. Much of my media is focused on mosaics, and Adipose is a bit of a departure, although it does have some mosaic features such as glass and tile. This was a process-based work that began from an abstract painting that was then formed into a sculpture from Model Magic. The sculpture was photographed with a large format camera, and then the photograph was torn into strips, woven and mounted on plexiglass which was warped with a heat gun. Tile, tempered glass and pigment were added to finish the piece, which glows in the dark and becomes an entirely different entity. Adipose explores themes of female objectification and body shame, with the juxtaposition of revulsion and fascination, particularly with the inner workings of the human body.
Ephemeral explores the passage of time in nature; the flow of life’s beginning to its end, to all things there is a season. Its form and surface design suggest the contents of a vernal pool; an essential component to new life within the waterways.
48x24x4D”. Ceramic tile on fiberglass.
Growing up as the daughter, granddaughter and niece of fishermen, the fishing industry is a large part of my heritage. Overfishing and climate change must be addressed to keep our oceans healthy and sustainable for our children.
10L x 4.5H c 4D’. Ceramic tile, stained glass, stone, glass tile on fiberglass/styrofoam base.
Reveal is an exploration of micro worlds through a macro lens. The kaleidoscopic mandala designs reflect at the same time objects that might be found under a microscope and revelations of the subconscious mind.
72H x 15W x 12D”. Ceramic tile on fiberglass/styrofoam armature.
72H x24W”. Sheet Metal. Continuing in a sea theme, a representation of the enchanting creatures of our ocean world, and the need to preserve them for future generations. My love for the ocean and its creatures within will always be reflected in my art. The need to protect and conserve these wondrous creatures for future generations is paramount to the overarching requirement to recognize the importance of taking care of our world and its inhabitants.
53Hx34Wx7D”. Mixed media lighted sculpture. Handmade paper, dal de verre glass, stone, beach findings, sea glass, driftwood on fiberglass mesh base.
87x24x13”. Ceramic tile on fiberglass/styrofoam armature. Persevere represents the strive to reach beyond one’s abilities and succeed. The sister sculpture to Persist, both sculptures were created in response to the 2016 presidential election. These pieces were my first attempts to create tall, sustainable mosaic sculpture and many mistakes and corrections were made along the way. The process symbolized the forward and backward progression of US politics at the time, keeping the goal in mind, “Nevertheless, she persisted”.
In private collection.
In private collection
Mosaic installation, stained glass. Duck Mill Apartments, Lawrence MA.
Permanent installation at the Open Sky Alternatives' Whitin Mill, MA.
"Ripping Stitches" is a personal reaction to immigrant children taken from their parents and placed into ICE custody. A melting pot has long represented the diverse population of our country. In recent years, the metaphor has evolved to that of a patchwork quilt. America’s diversity is a precious resource, a rich cultural tapestry. With our recent toxic political climate, America, a nation of immigrants, is literally coming apart at the seams. Hatred and racism has divided us, while lies and gaslighting has infected our collective consciousness. We cannot forget the mistakes of the past, reminders such as “Ripping Stitches” are needed in order not to repeat them.
Private kitchen backsplash installation.
Ceramic tile mosaic installation.
Stained glass mosaic
Permanent installation at the Open Sky Alternatives' Whitin Mill, MA.
Mixed media mosaic mural. Each panel measures 48H x 18W”. Stained glass, ceramic and slate.
15W x 3H’. Ceramic tiles, stained glass, vitreous glass.
