2016 E Studio Gallery, West Palm Beach, Florida
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I have been interested in the arts and involved in crafts throughout my life. In the 1970s, I designed handmade, one-of-a-kind handbags constructed with tapestry fabrics, antique lace, buttons, jewels, upholstery trims and ribbons. My handbags were sold in craft galleries on Madison Avenue as well as Soho in New York City.
In 1985, I became co-owner of Renaissance Fine Arts Gallery in Bethesda, Maryland. After ten years, I left to pursue my passion, which is the creation of art. I have long had an appreciation for beads, and so I started to experiment with them as an artistic medium in the mid-90s. I made my first beaded box in 1997. I developed my technique of beading without any formal training. Each project is a unique creative work, created with passion and purpose.
I was commissioned to create beaded works for many former clients of my art gallery. In 2002, I completed a commission for the temple ark at B’nai Tzedek Synogogue in Potomac, Maryland, which represents the twelve tribes of Israel. This was a life altering opportunity, which forced me “out of the box” and reinforced that I am capable of sharing my passion for beads.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My original technique manipulates beads into a composition which resembles a mini- mosaic. I want your visual experience to be a landscape of light, color, texture and form. I essentially paint with my beads, while at the same time, sculpting the beads into a desired form. I diversify the types of beads used in my creations in order to enhance the contrast, shape, and movement. When I am at work, my beads come to life with a voice unique to each creation. Beads offer boundless possibilities. Working with beads gives me a feeling of inner serenity and peace unlike any I have ever known. For me, teapots are a connection to my beloved British Grandmother who lovingly served tea for any and all occasions. They are the vessel that holds the essence of all maternal: nurture and love.
MATERIALS
I select a ceramic armature that offers interesting dimension and form. Then, paint is applied onto a ceramic armature. Glass seed beads -both new and vintage- are then glued onto the medium using surgical tweezers, placing each bead individually by hand. Larger bead elements are used for the legs and tops of my teapots. Ultra-suede and fiber trims are used for finishing bottoms.
INSPIRATION
These days, I am marrying the lessons learned in creating my teapots with the concept of the wall panels which I made for B’nai Tzedek. I enjoy taking familiar objects or an image created by a master and interpreting them into my media whether it be teapots, cookie jars, record album art or lunchboxes.