ARTIST STATEMENT:

Inspired by the strength of modern, minimal design, I create jewelry to empower the wearer. The jewelry pieces I wear at my fast-paced creative day job remind me of who I am and what is important to me.

I love the way that sculptural minimalism can communicate both beauty and strength. I'm fascinated with nature's complex systems and how they mirror what it means to be human. I keep coming back to seed pods, which nurture potential in their tiny armored enclosures.

I like experimenting with unconventional materials, but always come back the the challenges of manipulating metal. My design choices and meticulous finishes tend to make my work labor-intensive but make the finished pieces glow. I use ethically sourced materials and sustainable practices wherever possible and focus on making my work durable - I want to create jewelry that will last for many years to come.

ARTIST BIO:

I grew up wielding power tools and craft materials in Minnesota and have always been happiest doing something creative.

After completing a B.S. in Biology and a M.A. in Linguistics, I left to travel the world with a backpack and a camera. Five years later I returned to the U.S., landing in Los Angeles where I analyzed movie scripts for Hollywood production companies. This amazing education in storytelling laid the foundation for the rest of my creative career, but I was always also in search of a hands-on artistic outlet. 

After one class, I fell in love with metalsmithing at the Barnsdall Art Center, where I studied with LA-area art jeweler Valerie Mitchell. A few years later, a new job and a lot of travel as a theme park designer at Walt Disney Imagineering put my new creative explorations on hold (though I was able to dive deeply into nature photography, as my camera could always travel with me). 

After 16 years of leading large themed design projects as a creative executive, I again set up a small metals studio. Learning new skills and exploring nature-inspired jewelry designs have made me a better (and happier) designer overall, especially since I can wear the results of my efforts as a reminder of what drives me. Since then I have received training from a number of master artisans at respected crafts institutions including Mendocino Art Center,  Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, and Touchstone Center for Crafts. I learn an enormous amount from the jewelry community at large, and am a proud member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths and the Metal Arts Society of Southern California.