About the Artist
I was born in New Jersey and lived for most of my adult life in the Boston area. After a six month road trip, on the day the COVID quarantines were announced, I moved to Sonoma County in 2020. I worked as a career architectural photographer specializing in photographs of historic buildings and all kinds of antique collections. Sculpture had been a long time hobby, but, when I retired in 2019, photography became a hobby and sculpture is now my primary activity. My sculptures always begin with hiking in the forest and at the coast searching for wood that “speaks to me.” I’m limited to pieces I can carry. I also know a few “pickers” who will let me know if they find a piece they think I will like. I have done some realistic wood carvings, but I’m primarily interested in twisted, abstract pieces. I work almost exclusively with hand tools and, in addition to learning how to use gouges safely, there are many other techniques that have to be learned for fine woodworking, including sharpening tools, clamping unusual shapes, smoothing curved surfaces wood finishing and pedestal construction. I spend some time studying the new piece, then proceed to remove the bark and clean the surface. I do not design a sculpture; I “go with the flow,” emphasizing some shapes and removing others. I tend to follow the natural wood cracks, creating channels that are then rounded and smoothed. The further down I carve, the more the wood grain begins to appear. Complex grain patterns are like a painting; the lines and colors change to reveal the inner life of the tree. In fact, a curator friend nicknamed me “The Revealer.” Basically, I try to show what is already there beneath the surface. I have a deep reverence for trees. They speak to me, and I listen. Trees have evolved to survive in all kinds of environments. They need very little other than sun, water and soil. They ferry nutrients up to the canopy and down to the roots. When a tree grows old and dies, it falls to the forest floor and provides food for other living organisms. My role as artist is to give voice to the story living inside each piece.
Nature teaches artists all they need to know about the principles of art, including composition, perspective, light, color and form. Walk in the forest and listen to the trees, study the stars, follow the clouds, gaze into the flames of a campfire and sit by a stream. Pay attention and create!
Art Exhibitions
Pepperwood Preserve, The Majesty of Trees, September 2024
Museum of Sonoma County, Artistry in Wood, November 2023
Museum of Sonoma County, Artistry in Wood, November 2021
Plymouth Center for the Arts, 50th Annual Show, September 2018. 2nd place award for Sculpture
Plymouth Center for the Arts, 7th Annual Fine Art of Photography, May 2017
2nd Parish Church, Hingham, Annual Arts Festival, June 2017
Plymouth Center for the Arts, Private Show, February 2016
North River Arts Society, Ventress Library, April 9-June 4, 2016
North River Arts Society, Focus on Figures, April 2016
60th Annual Arts Festival, 2nd Parish Church, Hingham, May 2016
North River Arts Society, 40th Festival of the Arts, May 2016
Plymouth Public Library, September-November, 2016
Plymouth Center for the Arts, 49th Annual Show, September 2016
South Street Gallery, Benefit for Trustees of Reservations, October 2016
Plymouth Center for the Arts, Members’ Show, October 2016
Plymouth Center for the Arts, A Different Vision, November 2016
Duxbury Art Association Winter Juried Show 2015, February 8-April 26, 2015. Third Prize for Sculpture
Plymouth Center for the Arts 5th Annual Fine Art of Photography, April 2015
Second Parish in Hingham 59th Annual Art Festival, May 2015
North River Arts Society, 39th Annual Festival of the Arts, May 2015. First Prize for Color Photography
North River Festival of the Arts, May 2014. First Prize, B&W Photography.
South Shore Art Center Blue Ribbon Members’ Show, August 2014. Blue Ribbon Prize
Plymouth Center for the Arts, April 2013. First Prize, B&W photography
North River Festival of the Arts 2013, May 2013
Plymouth Center for the Arts Fine Art of Photography, April 2012
Plymouth Center for the Arts Annual Juried Art Show, September 2012. Best Abstract Award
North River Arts Society Focus on Figures, April 2011
Plymouth Center for the Arts Fine Art of Photography, April 2011. Second Prize, B&W Photography
North River Arts Society Festival of the Arts, May 2011. Honorable Mention, Sculpture
South Shore Art Center Annual Arts Festival, June 2011
South Shore Art Center Blue Ribbon Members’ Show, August 2011
Porcello Gallery, August 2011
Plymouth Center for the Arts 44th Annual Juried Art Show, September 2011. First Prize, Sculpture
South Shore Art Center Blue Ribbon Members’ Show, July 2009
South Shore Art Center Annual Arts Festival, June 2010
Selected Publications List
Photography Resume
