Artist Statement

I’ve spent my life in libraries—a well-ordered life—surrounded by books in an often chaotic, usually messy, yet always infinitely interesting world. Now retired from academic librarianship, I try, through my artwork of artist’s books, mixed-media collage, and assemblage, to bring a sense of symmetry, harmony, and discovery into our world. My work is quiet, observant and reflective. It tells a story.

In creating my one-of-a kind artist’s books, or collage and assemblage I utilize a variety of materials including paper, thread, fabrics, glass, boxes, metal, paint, and ink. I celebrate the written word through text—--poetic dialogue, quotations, biographical sketches, literary fragments, and letters. I conjure the past through photographs, ephemera, personal artifacts, references to literary and artistic movements and historical or scientific events. I honor the present through reuse and small-scale, and find beauty in found, and often overlooked discarded objects. My work is interactive, portable, and easily shared.

My aim is to actively engage, communicate and connect with viewers in a unique visual and tactile way. My pieces are meant to be touched, manipulated, and questioned. Elements of exploration, recognition, discovery, and surprise are woven throughout my work and are intended to draw in the curiosity of the viewer. What can this shared artist and viewer experience reveal of our similar or disparate personal and collective issues, memories, and histories?  What can it impart to our imaginative journeys?