Except for a short stint in Tennessee when I was four, I have lived in West Virginia all my life, which isn’t as depressing as it sounds. Sure, every time you go on vacation, someone just feels the need to ask if everyone wears shoes (and just for the record, everyone totally does), but whatever.
West Virginia is actually a completely gorgeous place to live, if you are into the beauty of nature rather than the manmade beauty of a giant shopping complex, that is. I have to say that I can appreciate a well-stocked mall just as much as the next person, but when it comes to artistic inspiration nothing beats being under a canopy of trees. Which is probably why my house is entirely encircled by trees. But then, basically everything in West Virginia exists within a forest, so my house is not all that unusual.
Even so, I love my house. With its sun-dappled front porch and curly willow tree in the backyard, I can’t imagine a better place to live and work. Because, of course, my studio is in the house. While I used to work out of the garage, I moved my studio to an upstairs bedroom last fall (though beautiful West Virginia is home to legions of mosquitoes in the summer and gets super cold in the winter). So, now, I work one door down from where I sleep, which I really, really like. Totally convenient and economical (I don’t even have to wear shoes!).
I also live with my husband, Jason, a graphic designer. His work area is in the basement, a full two floors below me. Apparently dust is not so good for computers and producing pottery creates a lot, so he keeps his precious gadgets far, far away. We also have a son, Evan, and a Dalmatian named Sophie.
That is about it, unless you are interested in my official Artist Statement:
“Archaeology has always been a passion of mine. There is something quite extraordinary about discovering worlds once hidden beneath layers of earth and time. In my work, I see the clay as the earth and the images as artifacts buried beneath its surface, just waiting to be uncovered. I am also interested in mankind’s representation of the natural world. Though I interpret plants found in my carvings in an individualistic way, I also look to cave art and the work of tribal cultures for inspiration. In this way, I feel a continuity of tradition that lends itself to the archaeological aspect of my work.”
Or Artist’s Resume:
Education
2005-2007
Marshall University. Huntington, West Virginia. B.F.A.: Visual Arts.
Studio Art/Ceramics. Graduated Summa Cum Laude, December 2007.
2003-2005
University of Charleston. Charleston, West Virginia.
Exhibitions/Craft Fairs
2010
Tamarack Demonstration. Beckley, West Virginia. (November).
Tamarack Demonstration. Beckley, West Virginia. (September).
“Mountain State Art and Craft Fair”. Ripley, West Virginia. (July).
2009
Demonstration at "Create WV Conference". Huntington, West Virginia. (October).
Tamarack Demonstration. Beckley, West Virginia. (August).
“Mountain State Art and Craft Fair”. Ripley, West Virginia. (July).
“Keramos and Friends” Exhibition. French Art Colony. Gallipolis, Ohio. (April).
“Kentucky Crafted the Market: Naturally”. Kentucky Exposition Center. Louisville, Kentucky. (February).
2008
“Fall Festival at the Exchange Place” Craft Fair. Exchange Place. Kingsport, Tennessee. (September).
“Mountain State Art and Craft Fair”. Ripley, West Virginia. (July).
“Keramos and Friends” NCECA Exhibition. The Armory. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. (March).
“Annual Student Juried Exhibition”. Birke Art Gallery. Marshall University. Huntington, West Virginia. (March).
2007
“Seventh Annual National Miniature Juried Exhibition”. Renaissance Gallery. Huntington, West Virginia. (November – December).
“Keramos and Friends”. Robert C. Byrd Gallery. Charleston, West Virginia. (October- November).
“Senior Group Exhibition: Packing Up”. Birke Art Gallery. Marshall University. Hunting¬ton, West Virginia. (October 23 – October 26).
“Keramos Group Exhibition”. Renaissance Gallery. Huntington, West Virginia. (June – July).
And that is basically all I think anyone can bear to read about my life right now. But, if you take a breather and want to learn more about me, my work, or my random thoughts, check out my Diary.
