2017
62 × 59 × 81 in
On it’s most basic level, The Gown:Affinity is a 3D printed copy of the wedding gown worn by my mother, her two sisters and myself. It’s substrate is made up of 260 LEGO-like blocks of cornstarch based plastic that has been completely covered in vintage Czech glass seed beads, Swarovski crystals, bottoms, tokens, photographs, chain and vintage cabochons. All of the ornamentation has been glued directly onto the substrate. The entire project took me about a year to complete.
I’d had the idea of creating a beaded gown for a while, but since I imagined it would be a huge project, I kept putting it off until my mother died in 2016 and I realized that the wedding gown in my attic would be perfect to use, not only as a tribute to my mother, but also as a meditation on marriage, family, life and death.
The Gown:Affinity had been featured at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, the Montclair Art Museum in Montclair, NJ, the Pen&Brush Gallery in NYC, and SOFA Chicago and was the category winner for sculptural works from Excellence in Fibers IV.
2015
61 x 69 x 110 in
When I saw an 8’ long praying mantis online, I knew immediately that I needed to bead it. Such a wonderful insect, I hadn’t seen one in the wild since I was a child, but when I was working on Das Bug, suddenly they showed up in our backyard ivy! It’s been a joy watching their little community grow and thrive.
2020
A group of creatures comes together around a cup of tea. Each one is alert, yet seems enthralled by their own private thoughts. As does the cup. And table. And even the tablecloth! All alive and dreaming of worlds that we can’t even imagine. Or can we?
2015
17.5 x 21 x 10 in
Fiberglass mannequin head with Balinese wings, Czech glass seed beads, crystals, cabochons. Flowers are made of recycled plastic shopping bags.
2014
30 x 18 x 14 in
Plaster substrate with brass chain and French beaded flowers.
Taming the Tiger was featured at SELECT NY and is now in a private collection.
2019
27 x 22 x 8 in
Fiber stone substrate.
Private collection.
2023
23 x 16 x 10 in
Made for the Lagomorphs exhibit at the Fuller Craft Museum celebrating the Year of the Rabbit.
Inspired by a story heard on The Moth Radio which told the tale of a mystical vampire rabbit who haunted a woman’s childhood.
16 x 9 x 4 in
Assorted Kewpies surfaced with various seed beads, glass beads, cabochons and baubles.
Kewpo Libre
Batfan
Chirpy Chicago
Cheshire Kewpie
Angelica
Bedroom Eyes
2024
32 x 33 x 2 in
An experiment gone right! These pieces look like softly draped fabrics, but they are, in fact, quite the opposite since I need a solid substrate on which to glue my beads. The snail hiding in one of the folds is a nod to my sweet pandemic pet, Shelly.
2019
14 x 6 x 4 in
Bats are another one of so many animals in danger of extinction. Commonly considered to be nasty, germ infested “rats with wings”, bats are amazing, wonderful creatures who pollinate our fields, rid us of billions of mosquitoes and inspire my personal favorite superhero! I’ve always loved bats and consider them my power animals.
This group will be featured at SOFA Chicago.
Rae
The Count
Dotty
Santo Batto
PeeWee
Estrella
Oswald
2013
19 x 12 x 10 in
Seed beads on fiber stone with cabochons and pencils.
2016
30 x 8 x 12 in
Seed beads on resin substrate with cabochons and pressed metal flats.
2024
26 x 19 x 11 in
Snowflake began with a gift of a dozen snowflake napkin rings!
2019
Framed - 13.5 sq. X 3 in
A series of beaded bugs, large actual preserved beetles which have been ethically farmed for the purpose of study. Many people have an aversion to insects, and yet bugs have long been portrayed and even venerated in art, from the scarabs of ancient Egypt to the Art Nouveau stylings of Lalique and Fabergé. My work is a continuation of this lineage and, certainly in these frightening days of imminent extinction of so many species, I feel that it’s important for art to add to awareness and prompt dialogue as well as to contribute beauty and solace. After an insect has been adorned in beads, it is framed in a shadow box along with some sort of decorative object, maybe an old brass ornament or beaded matchbox.
My first collection will be shown at the end of this month at SOFA Chicago and will be followed by a larger exhibit at the Duane Reed Gallery in St. Louis.
Daphne
Hari
Rapunzel
Icarus
Martina
Superhero
2020
36 x 41 x 8 in
This piece was made for the Pony Up Project, a fundraiser organized by the Silver Heron Gallery, Depoe Bay, Oregon. Each artist was given the pony substrate and asked to adorn it in their personal style.
I started with the pony’s eyes and she seemed so fierce to me that I named her Zenobia after the Warrior Queen of Palmyra.
