Artist's Statement

To introduce my art I usually say that: "My art reflects my Native American heritage Lenni Lenapi (Delaware Indian) and my professional background in anthropology, natural history, education, and exhibits."

Actually some of the most important life's experiences fundamental to my work were growing up in Guatemala, Liberia and much later in the halls of the Smithsonian Institution! All together these events conspired to give me an unending joy of wildlife, scientific research, and art.

I've been lucky enough to experience life in a way that few are privileged. My sculpture, whether out of hand-made paper, clay or textiles; jewelry and paintings reflect this eclectic background.

My Paper Fabrication Techniques

Each multi-layered cast-paper sculptures encompasses hours of research, photography and measurements of museum specimens. (Actually, this allows me to slog around marshes, take lousy photographs, and then run off to a friendly Natural History Museum!)

After making the primary sculpture out of Sculpey, I make a hydro-cal mold of each element and its background. (This allows me to slop around plaster.)

Next I make 100% pure, acid free sheets of paper formed on a screen mold dipped into a 4'x 4'x 4' vat containing 480 gallons of water and cotton linters. (Linters are the short cotton fibers that are left after the cottonseed is removed and the long fibers are spun into thread.) This renewable resource is acid free, archival, and is not harmful to the environment. After drying, the individual sculptural elements are cut out and attached to the background. Some sculptures have over 300+ feathers, (plus habitat elements), individually cast, cut, and applied. Each is signed with its edition number added. Molds are destroyed at completion of edition production.

(Depending on how courageous I feel) The completed work may or may not be painted!