Artist Statement
As an abstract painter, my intuitive process begins a journey for me that culminates in passages of intentional design for each work of art. Using principles of improvisation, I work from prompts that present themselves through journaling, traveling, even daydreaming. The known improv prompt “yes and…” shows up in each of my paintings as multiple layers. My theme touchstones include music as shown in my Composer’s Campaign series, architecture in Athena’s Timeline collection, personal history in both the One Hundred Years paintings and the Rural Infrastructure Series. My two most recent series, Talk to Me and Blue Dove focus on the importance of connection.
The mantra for my creative path is to repeat these three words - process, produce, and present. Those words encourage my growth as an artist through the experimentation of materials and techniques that reveal new processes and through the production of art in an abundant manner. When those two steps are complete, I move into the presentation of my work to connect with others through conversations and exhibitions.
I share that same three step mantra with my students and mentees. I am energized by the dialogue shared in a class and am amazed at the many interpretations for that trio of words. My goal is to help artists find their personal artistic language, improve their techniques, and increase their confidence.
CV
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Magna Cum Laude University of Cincinnati
Associate Degree of Business: Interior Design Delta College University Center, Michigan
Continued Graduate Studies: Central Michigan University in Humanities Cohort Program
Certification in Visual Coordination for Interior Design with Carole Talbott
Selected Exhibitions and Residencies
2024 95th Michigan Contemporary, Muskegon Art Museum, MI, Juror: Jonathan Thunder
2024 Art from the Heartland, Indianapolis Art Center, Indiana, Juror: Kyle Harrington
2024 Voices of the Midwest, Kavanagh Gallery, Fine Line Creative Art Center, St. Charles, Illinois
2024 Converge Benefit Exhibit, Bridgette Mayer Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2024 Tedx Talk at DAAPx Spring Symposium, University of Cincinnati
2024 Michigan Annual, Anton Art Center, Mt. Clemons, Michigan, Juror: Meighen Jackson
2024 Flourish, Mastrius Online Group Exhibition
2023 Nature’s Patterns, Rhode Island Watercolor Society, Juror: Susan Aitcheson
2023 New Painting, Site: Brooklyn, New York, Juror: Rachel Gugelberger
2023 Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Michigan, Juror: Cris Worley
2023 Sanctuary, Grosse Point Artists Association, Curator: Ian Matchett
2022 Great Lakes Bay Region Artist of the Year Award for 2022, Saginaw Art and Enrichment Commission
2022 Small Worlds, Crooked Tree Art Center, Traverse City, Michigan, Curator: Tami Fauver
2022 Fresh Art, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, California, Curator: Jen Tough
2022 Gems V, Arts Benicia, California, Curator: Susan Aulik
2022 Golden Apple Art Residency, Maine. Workshop leader during the residency.
2022 Port Austin Artist in Residence in June, Exhibit and Workshop during the residency.
2022 Worlds Collide, Grosse Pointe Artists Association, Curator: Steve Miller
2021 Greater Michigan Award Winners Retrospective, Alden B. Dow Museum at Midland Center for the Arts, Michigan
2021 Black and White, Grosse Pointe Artists Association, Curator: Marat Paransky
2021 Solo Exhibit: One Hundred Years, Delta College, University Center, Michigan
2020 Art Walk Central, Central Michigan University Curator: Anne Gochenaur New Berlin Series
2020 Sight and Sound Curator: Matthew Wey Grosse Pointe Art Association Haydn + Torke Series
2020 Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Fouad Fakhouri, Guest Visual Artist painting to Haydn, Torke and Copeland
2019 Aligned at 1628 LTD, Cincinnati, Ohio
2019 Sam and Adele Golden Foundation for the Arts Residency, New Berlin, New York
2019 Site Brooklyn: Collage Curator: Rachel Wolff 100 Years Series
2018 Solo Exhibit, Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art
2018 Art Walk Central, Central Michigan University Art Gallery, Curator: Anne Gochenaur, Rural Infrastructure
2017 Contemporary Abstraction, Susquehanna University, Curator” Daniel Olivetti
2017 Art Alive, ADC Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio Gravity Series
2017 ArtPrize 9: City Water Building Curator: Richard App Rural Infrastructure
2017 Juror for Ann Arbor Women Artists Association, Ann Arbor Library Exhibit
2017 Welcome Project workshop instructor, Wave Pool Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
2017 Curator for Victory over Violence exhibit sponsored by Dow Corning at Midland Center for the Arts
2016 Concordia University Kreft Gallery, Ann Arbor, MI “Boundaries, Borders and Thresholds” Curator: Sarah Kohn “Bahn Hof” Third place award
2016 Artprize 8: City Water Building Curator: Richard App “Highland Series”
2016 Artist-Directed Residency at Wave Pool Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
2015 Square Foot: Art Basel Edition at Projects Gallery Miami, Fla Natura Series: Acrylic
2015 The Pink: Invitational Midland Center for the Arts Curator: B. B. Winslow Couture Series: Acrylic
2015 ArtPrize 2015 106 Gallery: Calvin College "Weighing the Landscape" Curator: Joel Zwart Athena’s Domain: Acrylic
2015 Cabaret: Center Stage, Collaboration with Director: Keeley Stacey-Bohn Midland, MI The Book and The Broomstick: Experimental Drawing
2014 Mostra Internazionale Di Pittura: Matera, Italy Curator: Pino Nicoletti Agate and Mica Series: Acrylic
2014 ArtPrize 2014Cathedral Square, Grand Rapids "HeArtbeat: The Pulse of Art and Life" Curator: Elizabeth Hertl Ruins March Forward: Athena’s Timeline Series: Acrylic
2014 Northwood Gallery: Midland, MI One Person Exhibition MidCentury Curator: Dr. Mia Dvornic
2014 Studio 23 Two Person Exhibition "Extreme Expressionists" with Glass Artist Mary Ellen Graham
2014 Art in Motion-Chicago Juror: James Rondeau, Curator of Contemporary Art at Chicago Art Institute Finalist: Volt Series Honorable Mention Award
2013 ArtPrize Venue: Fifth Third Plaza Grand Rapids, MI Gravity Series: Encaustic Monotype
2013 Greater Michigan Exhibition Juror: Sergio De Giusti Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art Architectura Series: Encaustic Monotype
2013 85th Regional Exhibition Juror: Doug Stapleton Muskegon Art Museum Taiko Series: Acrylic
2013 Open Competition Alfred Berkowitz GalleryJuror: Mary Ellen Graham Dearborn, MI Merit Award: Gravity Series: Encaustic Monotype
2013 ArtFutura-Chicago Juror: James Rondeau, Curator of Contemporary Art at Chicago Art Institute Finalist: Gravity Series: Encaustic Monotype
2012 ArtPrize Venue: Cathedral Square Grand Rapids, MI Curator: Ron Pederson Lithos: Acrylic
2012 Michigan Fine Arts Competition Juror: Mi-Kyoung Lee Detroit, MI Fifth Street Jazz: Acrylic
2012 One Person Exhibit St. Cecilia Music Center Grand Rapids, MI
2011 100 Grand Show Nice Gallery Grand Rapids, MI
2011 ArtPrizeVenue: St. Cecilia Music Center Grand Rapids, MI Composer’s Campaign: Taiko
2010 ArtPrize Venue: Cathedral Square Grand Rapids, MI Curator: Ron Pederson Athena’s Timeline Series:Illumination
2010 One Person Exhibit Space Studio Midland, MI
2009 ArtPrize Venue: Amway Grand Grand Rapids, MI Composer’s Campaign: Scintillation
2009 Michigan Governor’s Residence-Selection of Work for 2009 Curator: B. B. Winslow Lansing, MI
2009 "Crossroads"-Two Person Exhibition Northwood Gallery Curator: Dr. Mia Dvornic Midland, MI
2009 "From Margin to Center" Invitational (4 Mixed Media Artists) Curator: Anne Goerchner Central Michigan University
2007 Greater Michigan Fine Arts Exhibition-Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art Curator: Karl Umlauff Midland,MI Award of Merit: Raven-Mixed Media
2007 Buckham Gallery in Flint, MI: Heart Rate Invitational Exhibition
2006 Best of Michigan Artists, Kennedy Publications. First Place Mixed Media
2005 Greater Michigan Fine Arts Exhibition-Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art Midland, MI One Person Exhibition Award
2004 The Municipal Art League of Chicago Biennial-Midwest Fine Art Competition Beverly Arts Center Chicago, IL Kamini Evening: Acrylic
2004 Exhibition at Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art Midland, MI Tuscan Memories: Collograph
2004 Art in Public Places Mural Commission: YWCA Bay County Bay City, MI
2004 63RD Annual National Exhibition of Watercolor Society of Alabama Birmingham, AL Strathmore Artist Award: Catignano IIAcrylic
2004 Michigan Fine Arts Competition Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center Birmingham, MI India and Pendulum: Drawings
2004 Two Person Show “Two Into” Saginaw Valley State University Curator: David Littell Saginaw, MI
2004 Great Lakes Drawing Biennial Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI
2003 F. Kline Gallery National Juried Drawing Competition Santa Fe, New Mexico
2003 General Motors Michigan Annual XXXI Mount Clemens, MI
2002 Studio 23All Area Bay City, MI Second Prize: Delta Art Award: Remnant of Siena Collage
