Bio
I am fascinated with the body and all that it can do—the machine that it is. It’s awe inspiring. From the brain and psychology of emotions to the way all parts communicate with each other to make this machine work. The fact that the human body can heal itself while also producing another one like it is profound. The body is a beautiful machine like no other.
Mother Nature inspires in the same way—how intricate systems develop and function together. I am endlessly impressed by the color of an insect, the way a flower is constructed or the way an animal skull or shell is put together. All by nature! The way that we need certain insects to interact with flowers and vegetables in order to have food for humans is yet another example of this impressive machine and system at work.
Jewelry is my way of combining my two favorite fascinations—joining them and seeing what can develop. I enjoy a challenge and a puzzle. I like pushing the limits on what is considered “jewelry” or what can be worn on the body. Placing nature into a piece of jewelry is my way of emphasizing the message to human bodies that need to be making important decisions about where our natural world is going. I like getting the nature in front of them, especially nature that they may not have otherwise encountered. I like to feature pieces of nature that most people feel uncomfortable with (e.g., snake skin, turtle shell shutes, cicada wing), since it’s nice to show people that there are always two ways of looking at something. A negative and a positive. And there is beauty in just about anything; it is all in the way you look at it.
In addition to the deeper meaning of my jewelry, there is a lighter value in the aesthetic appearance. Sometimes, it is the color, the shape or the whimsical feeling of a piece that attracts the viewer and sparks a positive feeling in them. Through clean lines and meticulous fabrication my work brings the natural world to the viewer in a manner in which it wouldn’t regularly be appreciated. It becomes wearable art that changes your connection to Mother Nature.