Awareness, anticipation and curiosity are all heightened while we eagerly await the punch line of a joke. Humor has always been one of my artistic muses. My favorite mission statement is, “To create art with no message other than to amuse”. That, along with my appreciation for the wildlife abundant in Idaho’s mountains, has evolved into migratory fish on wheels, water wheels of spinning trout, arbors and gates filled with birds, dancing bears and kinetic wind powered assemblages. I aim at creating sculptural pieces with a combination of conceptual strength, technical expertise, and inventiveness while I continue to look for the humor waiting to be exposed in my work.

 

My most recent exploration utilizes antique outboard motor cowlings and aluminum casting. The aluminum cowlings from the 1950’s have an art deco look and I soon discovered pelicans lurking inside of them. My personal love of fishing opened the door for this “found art”. During one Sun Valley, Idaho gallery walk where my flock of pelicans had landed in the gallery’s front window, it was my pleasure to watch faces light up in childlike delight when people spotted them from outside.

 

My experience with commissioned work for memorials and homes has truly become synergistic as I create something that communicates intimately with the vision of the homeowner, allowing their artistic muse to become part of the process. Reflective listening and intuition dance together and the resulting sculptural work connect to the owner’s life in a deeper way than by simply ordering it from a catalogue.