Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background and your work as an artist/creative?
A: I went to school for Spanish Linguistics and French and I have always been a maker and an active part of creative communities wherever I am. I work in Adult Education at OACES and backstage at West Herr Auditorium as part of the Local Wardrobe Union. I love to dress up, work with costumes, be a part of a team, and work with people from all over the world. I am fluid with my choice of media in expression. I have made art hats, pocket books, masks, ceramic vessels and sculpture, sewn forms, hand stitched poems, paintings and artist books. In my 20's, I lived in NYC working for Sesame Street. I have worked in film production in ROC with Blue Sky Project on films about Shawn Dunwoody and Sarah Rutherford. I have participated in a dozen international ceramic workshops, most of which were wood firings, another team sport love. For the past 7 years, I've been back and forth between ROC and FL (my love Dan had a job as a FL chef while I'm still working here). I travel with a "portable studio", a 16"x 20" bag loaded with supplies and tools. What I carry determines what I make. Scraps of fabric, needles and thread, saved brown paper bags, graph paper, tempera sticks, art sticks, watercolor, brushes are some items in my bag.
Q: Who do you consider to be your greatest artistic mentor? What did they teach you?
A: Doug Casebeer is my biggest mentor, former Artistic Director at Anderson Ranch Ceramic and Sculpture Department. In my 30's when we had small kids and little money, he called me as follow up to an inquiry I made about and Int'l Clay workshop. It was way out of my reach financially. He encouraged me to always ask about scholarship opportunities for artistic pursuits. In that case, I was given full scholarship after submitting slides and writing a proposal. My international making and exchange began on that phone call. He is an amazing artist and incredible teacher who have worked with in many locations over the years since.
Q: Do you have any advice for young or newly creative people?
A: Always ask if scholarships or funding is available! Also collaborate collaborate collaborate. Making a plan for a "show-up" with even just one other person to share work/challenges/bounce ideas off of is so helpful!
Q: How long have you been a RoCo member? Why did you join?
A: This year will be my 30th year as a RoCo member! I joined to find and connect with the arts community here in Rochester, meet people, learn about opportunities to show my work, and get involved. I loved the early years of Pyramid too at Village Gate under the Directorship of Elizabeth McDade. I volunteered more then, learned the backstage part of community galleryship. Some of my dearest friends and people I have collaborated with over the years, I met through RoCo!
Q: What is your favorite exhibition that you’ve seen at RoCo? Why?
A: There were so many that I loved: the Maker/Mentor series, Update Invitationals, Member shows, the thrill of the first 6x6 and all that followed, Lab Space exhibitions (emerging artists or projects premiering at RoCo)…but most recently the RG Miller: Tsi Non:we Entewaha’hara’ne / Our Path Forward exhibit and lecture blew me away! His visceral work, making his way through his recovery was incredibly powerful.
Q: You’ve worked closely with Rochester’s Sister City coalition, why is international exchange so important to you?
A: Making connections with people of different cultures and perspectives has been a life long interest. In 2007 Sally Wood Winslow was Director of a Municipal Art Gallery at High Falls. She organized an art exhibit as a gift from the Arts Community of Rochester to the Arts Community of Rennes, France to celebrate our 50th anniversary of Sister City hood. I was thrilled to contribute(an all photographic exhibit for shipping ease). The contributing artists were invited to join the delegation traveling there for the celebration. When we visited, we were given a backstage peak of the urban planning, educational system, industry and more in Rennes! I learned so much and made so many amazing connections! FYI we have 12 Sister Cities around the globe and have economic, educational, artist, musical, athletic, governmental, and medical partnerships through this program that fosters peace through people to people connections.
Q: You have a great sense of style! What in your wardrobe do you wear most often?
A: That is a forever changing landscape. A life-long thrift shopper and woman who is not afraid to use a pair of scissors or amend for effect, I am constantly updating my favorites. Cherished items in my closet: platform boots, clown pants, a pair of pants made from my grandmother's lace tablecloth and a hand stitched deerskin dress with dozens of copper leafed nipple bangles.
Thanks for letting me stand in the spotlight.