"Rising Thermals" Outdoor Sculpture

Archeology, Geometry and astronomy often influence the direction of my artwork. Native American culture has also had a significant impact on my work and fuels inspiration for many projects, as an environmentalist and naturalist, I have always held a strong respect and appreciation for the "Original Peoples" and their interwoven relationship with the land and animals. Woven steel vessel forms partially buried in the earth are reminiscent of archeological artifacts, a bygone era of Human and Nature living in harmony. Woven Steel Beehive light sculptures combine form and light to create texture and patterns on the surrounding surfaces as a double dimension of drawing. Suspended night sky inspired pieces float orbs of light on spiraling tube steel that seem to spin and move like cirrus clouds in the sky.
My newest series of colorful outdoor freestanding sculptures inspired by ancient themes in nature blend with the grandeur and beauty inherent in outdoor native landscapes, from large Nautilus forms to abstract gestures, metal is twisted and hewn to create woven thickets where light and shadow pass through creating an interplay between the natural backdrop, the changing seasons and direction of the sun.
My “Fiber Optic light paintings” are inspired by fractal formations, aerial views of dried up river beds and formations from alluvial fans in mountain scapes are depicted in water color on wood, fine fibers are woven and ‘Drawn” onto the outlines of the paintings and an LED projector is hidden in the back of the painting which illuminates the fibers on the surface, giving the paintings life and light (many are DMX capable). I use sacred geometry when constructing my pieces and often create a scale model prior to fabrication of the actual piece. For commissioned works, the history and environment of the location play an important role in the creative process to create a truly site-specific work.

Born in Chicago, ILL to artist parents, I had a destiny to become an artist myself. Fostered by their knowledge, skill and abilities, I was given the opportunity to start practicing very young. My time was spent both in downtown and in the country of southern Illinois where my grandparents had a farm. It was there when my grandfather introduced me to iron work (he was a fabricator and engineer of water towers at Chicago Bridge and Iron for 50 years- Bridgework has been an ongoing fascination and inspiration to me).