CU·RI·O /ˈkyo͝orēˌō/ - a rare, unusual, or intriguing object.
I am an artist. My work is an extension of everything that makes me who I am and what I am willing to give back. Creativity comes into my life in massive waves, barreling down at me in surges, leaving me no choice but to harness everything about it. I feel the flow nagging at me to make things, and it is only after they are complete that I can move on.
My philosophy of art is simple. It exists in some capacity for everyone. There is little difference between someone who goes through the process of creating something and the observer who watches and appreciates it. Materials exist to provide the tools for expression, but it’s ultimately how one uses the materials that make it yours. Do what you love, and everything else will find a way. I choose where to place my energy and attention. Exploration and excitement of possibilities cultivate my creativity. I was given a gift, and I use it. I benefitted from the most magical teacher in elementary school. She was pure happiness, and her energy captivated each and every class. My high school art teacher and his gruff demeanor provided constant criticism. I had been told all my childhood what a talented artist I was, yet he did not. He described my work as OK, and you can do better. At 16, I knew that he was a broken man, which made him an amazing artist and mentor. Unfiltered, he and I butted heads on more than one occasion, but the truth could always be detected by the faint sparkle of his sad yellow eyes. Eyes that I am sure shown much brighter before life took a chunk out of him. His gruff teaching style very seldom came with clear expectations but rather a simple set of directions. I am sure his grading style was based on “perceived” effort. He understood me, and I tolerated him, which allowed me to learn a lot and grow. Nurture = growth.
What’s my jam? Pretty much everything I can get my hands on, but my mosaic work holds a sacred place in my life. It fascinates me. The magic is that mosaicists are almost always self-taught. I began immersing myself in this art form circa 2000. Since then, I have taught countless numbers of people to break things and put them back together. The more broken, mismatched, and non-functioning materials are, the more beautiful they become. As I move into my 50’s, I find myself becoming more nostalgic and eager to revisit other mediums. It’s like returning to a familiar place.
I love teaching. I can fuse my love of my art with my love of people. As much as I put into creating my work, I get out of teaching others to explore their creativity. To coin the phrase “it’s all about the process, not the final product” seems cliche, but all of my art is, in essence, one significant process. This has long been my struggle with selling my art because I could never really put a price tag on every moment I put into making the final piece. I always think, does this person know how much of myself I poured into this?
I’m far from perfect, but through creative exploration, I find perfection. Life is one big circle, and this is my journey…
Member of the Arts and Craftsmen Guild on the Historic Roycroft Campus, East Aurora, New York
Member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists
Professional Member of the National Art Education Association, NAEA
Member of the Northbrook Historical Society & Museum
Licensed Art Educator in Illinois and West Virginia and coming soon to Virginia PreK-12