ARTIST STATEMENT
I have always enjoyed making art in various mediums. I started working with paper and its' different forms (bookmaking being my favourite) but have moved on to textiles. I took a four-year degree program which taught the "how to" of every embroidery technique while encouraging a contemporary approach by combining multi-methods. The design component that was concurrently taught opened up a world of possibility to me. Opening my eyes to the world around us and adapting ‘anything’ into a viable design has been one of the most satisfying parts of this experience.
In making my art, fabric is dyed, painted, torn and/or manipulated; plastic materials are stretched, skewered and melted; paper is ripped, crinkled and molded. Then all materials are attached with a threaded needle either by hand or by machine. Each piece is completely hand made and of an original design.
One thing I have learned about myself is my passion for texture - I find I am always drawn to a touchable surface. One that involves the senses. I enjoy the play of light, the layers of colours, the juxtaposition of combining different tactile fibres and strive to always present a visual feast for the viewer.
SELECTED JURIED AND CURATED EXHIBITIONS:
- Placemaking, Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts), Calgary AB, Aug- Sept 2019
- Connected Heritage, New Icelandic Heritage Museum, Gimli MB, July-Aug 2019
- Forest and Sea and the Place Between, Portals Gallery, Duncan BC, Mar-April 2019
- WAR - A Personal Response, Sidney Museum, Sidney BC, Oct-Nov 2018
- Materiality, ACAD, Calgary, AB, Aug 2018
- Collective Fibres, Wellspring Calgary, AB, Oct 2017-April 2018
- TeXtile:Contextural Celebrates Ten, Gallery 371, ACAD, Calgary AB, Sept 2017
- My Heritage, Dow Centennial Centre, Fort Saskatchewan AB, Nov 2016
- My Heritage, Artstream Gallery, Edmonton AB, Oct 2016
- SelfEDGE, Gallery 371, ACAD, Calgary AB, Sept 2016
- Leighton Art Centre, Millarville AB, Aug-Sept 2016
- My Heritage, Enterprise Gallery, Edmonton AB, May-Aug 2016
- The Mark, the Hand, the Thread, Calgary AB, Sept 2015
- Bridging Waters, Gallery on 3rd, Watrous SK, March 2014
- Bridging Waters, Saint John Art Centre, Saint John NB, Nov 2013-Jan 2014
- Bridging Waters, Art Centre Gallery, Sidney BC, Sep 2013
- Bridging Waters, The Cre8ery, Winnipeg MB, May 2013
- Bridging Waters, Maeldune Heritage Centre, Maldon UK, Aug/Sept 2012
- Bridging Waters, Textiles on the Hill, Horndon on the Hill UK, May 2012
- Bridging Waters, Brentwood Road Gallery, Romford UK, Feb 2012
- Articulation, Whyte Museum of the Rockies, Banff AB, Nov2011-Jan2012
- Narrative Articulations, Victoria College of Art, Victoria BC, Aug/Sept 2010
- Quilt Canada 2010, Calgary AB, May 2010
- Urban Textures, Mennonite Gallery, Winnipeg MB, Sept/Nov 2009
· Seemingly Simple, (2-woman show), Calgary AB, August 2009
· Urban Textures, McMullen Gallery, Edmonton AB, April/June 2009
· No More White Walls, Other Gallery, Banff AB, March 2009
· Fruits of Summer, Calgary AB, August 2008
· Canada’s UNESCO Sites, (2-woman show) McMullen Gallery, Edmonton AB, April/June 2008
· Meta Incognita, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax NS, Feb/April 2008
· Nectar, (2-woman show) Calgary AB, August 2007
· Meta Incognita, Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival, Banff AB, May/Sept 2007
· Meta Incognita, in conjunction with Calgary Opera and the world premiere of Frobisher, Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary AB, Jan/April 2007
· Just For Fun, Art Gallery of Alberta (April/May 2006), moving into Alberta Craft Council Gallery (June/July 2006), Edmonton AB, then Donalda Art Gallery (July/Sept 2006)
· Places I’ve Been, (2-woman show) Art and Soul Gallery, High River AB, April 2006
· Links, fibreEssence Gallery, Vancouver BC, March/April 2006
· Links, Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton AB, Sept/Oct 2005
· Alberta Badlands: Fibre Impressions, The Station Cultural Center, Okotoks AB, May 2005
· All About Alberta, Alberta Craft Council Gallery, Edmonton AB, Jan/April 2005
· Healing Through Fibre Arts – Edmonton Art Gallery (May 2004) moving into the Alberta Craft Council Gallery (July/Aug 2004), Edmonton AB
· City and Guilds of London, Graduation Exhibition, Calgary AB, March 2004
· Connection 2000, Medicine Hat Cultural Centre, Medicine Hat AB, January 2004
EDUCATION:
· Studied under fibre artists from 2000 to present: Susan Brandeis, Michael Brennand-Wood, Nicola Brown, Judy Coates Perez, Martha Cole, Rosalie Dace, Pam Godderis, Natalie Grambo, Maggie Grey, Ann Johnston, Amanda Jones, Lisa Klakulak, Charllotte Kwon, Sandra Meech, Lyn Pflugger, Yoshiko Wada, Shannon Wardroper
· Banff Centre, Leighton Artist Colony Residency, March 2009
· Banff Centre, Leighton Artist Colony Residency, March 2008
· Diploma in Design and Embroidery, City and Guilds of London Institute, under Gail Harker 2000-2004
· Conferences: SDA Conference 2019, St. Louis MO
SDA Conference 2017, Portland OR
SDA Conference 2013, San Antonio TX
SDA Conference 2011, Minneapolis MN
EAC Seminar 2006, Edmonton AB
EAC Seminar 2003, Halifax NS
· Joined Bow Valley Calligraphy Guild in fall 1994 and have taken many classes in lettering styles/crafts/paper techniques over the years
· BSc (Engineering) University of Alberta 1981
AFFILIATIONS:
Articulation Textile Group
Contextural, Fibre Arts Cooperative
Focus on Fibre Art Association
Alberta Craft Council
Surface Design Association
Woman's Art Museum
TEACHING
Calgary Academy, Calgary AB
McMullen Gallery, Edmonton AB
Creative Stitching Show, Calgary AB
Fibre Hut, Calgary AB
