Artist Statement
As a book artist — I appreciate when a piece looks like a book closed and then opens to create a new, unexpected structure. Often structures invite movement which encourages a reader to encounter challenges to expected norms. I especially love when content and form have a dynamic relationship.
As a mixed media artist — I use bold colors to create abstract art, often using geometric shapes, especially triangles and circles. Though recognizable as geometric, they are often layered upon themselves. Words both expressive and asemic add yet more layers. So much media, so little time: acrylics, water color, indigo, marbling, suminagashi, security envelopes, cardboards, stamp carving….
As a writer — I appreciate exploration, complication, and surprise. I am a dystopian. My world view is dark. I focus my cultural lens close to home, asking why things work the way they do and how we might change them for the better. If that doesn’t sound dystopian, I’ll have to admit to seeking joy wherever I can, especially as an artist.
As an academic — I explore culture at the personal, national, and international levels. Asking questions is at the heart of the conceptual artwork I create. While the clichéd What is the meaning of life? is never pondered, What does it mean to be American? Female? White? Or Elderly? are often at the forefront.
Awards
Art of the Book Exhibition, Rochester Public Library, Aug/Nov 2025
Onion Book—Honorable Mention, Paper Sculpture Category
Focus On Book Arts, Challenge Book Award June 2024
Onion Book—Best Integration of Structure, Text, Materials, Imagery
Puget Sound Book Artists Member Show, June 2024
Steps Through Time—Most Innovative Book Structure Award
One Woman Show
MiraCosta Library, Oceanside, CA, April – June, 2018
Exhibits
Quiet, The Los Angeles Makery, April 2026
Staring Toward the End of the Bridge
Illustrated Accordion, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, Feb/Mar 2026
Hanging by a Thread
Book Arts: Beyond Expectations, Gallery at Liggett Studio, Sept 2025
Mark It
Ripples Through the Crowd
Art of the Book, Rochester Public Library, Aug/Nov 2025
Steps Through Time
Accordion Roundup
Onion Book
No Theme, Theme Show, Covet Art Gallery, Feb 2025
The Plot Thickens
Mark It
PLAYTIME 3, The Los Angeles Makery, Feb 2025
Nursery Rhymes and Nursery School Activities: A Dual Accordion
Illustrated Accordion, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, Feb-Mar 2025
Accordion Roundup
Biggest Little Zine Fair, Long Beach, CA, Dec 2024
Amazing Women
On the Streets Down Under
Don’t Be So Serious
All Made Out of Ticky Tacky
Abstract Show, Escondido Arts Partnership, June 2024
Spinning Marbles
Mark It
Intention Orange
Dames of Grand, Escondido Arts Partnership, Jan 2024
4 Portraits, 2 Women, 1 Orbit (collaboration w/Jane Mushinsky)
Illustrated Accordion, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, Feb-Mar 2024
Nursery Rhymes and Nursery School Activities: A Dual Accordion
The Book as Art: Rock, Paper, Scissors, Georgia Center for the Book, Sept-Oct 2024
Counting Loss
Summation, Escondido Arts Partnership, Dec 2021
Creative Caterpillar Journal
If I Sit…
The Big Little Art Show, Escondido Arts Partnership, Nov 2021
Scrapple
The Plot Thickens
Fiber & Book Arts, Escondido Arts Partnership, Sept 2021
Covid Times
Eye was Taught to be White
Ideally Abstract, Escondido Arts Partnership, July 2021
Turtle Dreams
Will It Go Round
Fiber & Book Arts, Escondido Arts Partnership, Sept 2021
Street Art Framed
Thinking
Tri-Strangulation
Pandemonium, Abecedarian Gallery, Mar 2021
Covid Times
Illustrated Accordion, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, April - June 2021
Street Art Framed
2021 San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild Summer Exhibition, June - Aug 2021
International Juried Exhibition
Tell Your Stories
Illustrated Accordion, KABC Online Exhibition, May - June 2021
Tri-Strangulation
Louder than Words, San Diego Book Arts. Jan - Feb, 2020
Tri-Strangulation
Cherchez La Femme, San Diego Book Arts, Oct 2015 (collaboration w/Linda Shaffer)
Mother Mary
Artists' Book Cornucopia IV, Abecedarian Gallery, April - June 2013
What She Said
Hidden Agendas, Atelier 6000, April – May, 2013
Mining a Vein
What She Said
Summation, Escondido Arts Partnership, Dec 2012
Hourly
Art Riot, Escondido Arts Partnership, Nov - Dec 2010
Sprite
What She Said
Figurative, Infinity Art Gallery, Oct – Dec 2010 (collaboration w/Linda Shaffer)
International Juried Exhibit
Opening Night
West Coast Fiber and Book Art, Front Porch Gallery Sept/Oct 2010 (collaboration w/Linda Shaffer)
Despair
Art Riot, Escondido Arts Partnership, Sept 2009
Bouncing
Joy (collaboration w/Linda Shaffer)
Fast Forward Press 2009
Fast Forward v2, Cover art
Local Color Exhibit, Escondido Arts Partnership, July 2009
Breaking Through
Small Scale, Escondido Arts Partnership, Feb 2009
Cutting Out Fish
Patty Reed
Summation Exhibit, Escondido Arts Partnership, Jan 2009
3x3
Art Riot Exhibit, EAP 9/08, book arts
Mining a Vein
Art Riot Exhibit, EAP 9/08, book arts (collaboration w/Linda Shaffer)
Panache
Arts Alive, Public Art—Oceanside Street Banner, Summer 2008
Sparkling Starfish
In Collections
Fall River Public Library in Massachusetts
Private Collectors
Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
University of Colorado Special Collections
University of Indiana Chemistry Library
University of Indiana Special Collections
Yale University Special Collections
500 Handmade Books v2, Julie Chen Juror, 2013
What She Said
For inquiries about available works, commissions, or studio visits:
Contact
Oceanside, CA