8310 E. Remus Rd.
Mt. Pleasant

I was born in Michigan and I have lived most of my life here, except for 4 years in the US Air Force and a year in Europe after my time in the Air Force. I have also spent a lot of time in Canada, which is "next door" to Michigan.

 A majority of my work consists of wheel thrown porcelain forms based on organic patterns of microscopic and macroscopic organisms. Some are based on seed pods, teeth, pollen, sea animals, squash, and even watermelon, but as the development proceeds, they merge and take on new forms of possible and imaginary organisms. All are hand made, one-of-a-kind pieces, usually done in a series, so there might be some similarity among some pieces, but no two are ever exactly alike.

For much of My life I have been involved in various types of so-called arts & crafts, and an early memory is making clay jack-o-lanterns in kindergarten. I am experienced in leather work, lapidary, copper enamel, copper tool, ceramic tile, reed basketry, lanyard weaving, and other crafts. I learned to slipcast clay while in the Air Force, and to throw pots in my first semester at Central Michigan University. I started in ceramics and was gradually drawn into sculpture over the next few years, until I had a dual concentration in both.

My road to becoming a professional fine artist started in functional ceramics, led into sculptural ceramics, to sculpture in clay, through some video experiments, and now even including computer graphics. For most of my life, I have been both attracted to and very allergic to, large numbers of trees, grasses, and bushes. I have refused to become trapped indoors just because of these allergies, and as I began to develop unique sculptural forms, I examined both macroscopic and microscopic elements of nature. By examining the form and structure of seeds and other natural objects, I found great beauty in these simple forms, and developed simple organic sculptural designs, based on slightly abstract versions of these natural world objects.  

EDUCATION

Central Michigan University, B.S. ED.-1976, M.A.-1987
University of Alaska, Anchorage, A.A. 1972
United States Air Force, 1968-l972

Teaching and Related Work Experience

Handicraft Director
Paul Bunyan Scout Reservation, BSA, 1995-Present

Pottery Instructor
Art Reach of Mid-Michigan, Mt. Pleasant,
Mt. Pleasant Adult Education Classes,
Mt. Pleasant Parks and Recreation Classes (pottery),
Creative Arts Gallery, Central Michigan University,
Chippewa Hills Schools - Native American Pottery Class, Remus

GALLERIES

Da Vinci's Gallery, Adrian, Mi, 2006
Enigma Gallery, Essex, VT, 2005-2006
Circle Gallery at Smith's, Midland, MI, 2003-2006
Gallery: FunctionArt, Pontiac, MI, 2001-2002
Sistarz Art Gallery, Cape Coral, Fl, 2001

JURIED REGIONAL SHOWS

Sixth Annual Alma College, Statewide Print Competition, Alma, 1986
Lansing Art Gallery - Painting and Small Sculpture, 1986
- Small Wonders, 1982 - Marketplace, 1982
The Mid-Michigan Exhibition, Midland, 1978, 1979, 1983
Capital City Arts '82, Lansing City Hall, Lansing, 1982
Art Reach of Mid-Michigan - Holiday Art Show, Mt. Pleasant, 1982
Mt. Pleasant Juried Art Show, Mt. Pleasant, 1978-1982
Student Art Show, University Center, C.M.U., 1975, 1977-1979, 1982

INVITATIONAL GROUP SHOWS

M. A. (Two person) Show, C.M.U., Mt. Pleasant, 1987
Raku Invitational, Artists & Craftsmen Guild Gallery, Ann Arbor,1986
The Politics of Whimsy, 16 Hands Gallery, Ann Arbor, 1984
Four Person Show, 2 Doors Down Gallery, Lansing, 1983
6 Potters Show, University Center, C.M.U., Mt. Pleasant, 1982
Husband and Wife Show, 201 First Street Gallery, Clare, 1979
Art Reach of Mid-Michigan - Two Person Show, Mt. Pleasant, 2003

ART FAIRS

Summer Arts Festival, Ann Arbor, 1984
Mt. Pleasant Community Art Festival, 1979, 1980, 1982
Palmer Park Art Fair, Detroit, 1982
Art Under The Pines, Traverse City, 1981