My educational experiences began in Washington State at Olympic College. There I majored in art, studying design, printmaking and pottery. Since then I have continued to attend classes and workshops presented by professional artists and artisans. Among these are Mark Hewitt, Robert Pipenberg, Tom Turner, Marie Woo, Michael Simon, Christopher Rumme, Jerry Caplin, Suze Lindsey, Silvie Granatelli, Cythia Bringle, Nick Joerling and Ruggels and Rankin. I have taught Advanced Pottery at the Crafts Center of North Carolina State University since 1986, as well as organizing fund-raising events to benefit the Crafts Center. A recent addition to my home allows space for a gallery, and hosting workshops. My membership in professional organizations includes Exhibiting Member of the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild, American Craft Council, Durham Arts Guild, Clayworks Guild of Durham, and the Contemporary Craftsmen group.
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After
moving from the Seattle area to North Carolina, I established White
Oak Pottery in 1980, while living in the township of White Oak.
The business was relocated to Cary in 1989 and then again in March
2002 to Durham, where I now reside. As a full time studio potter
and artist I produce pieces primarily in clay using a white stoneware
clay body and firing in an electric kiln. I have been exploring
metalsmithing, papermaking, woodworking, and stained glass techniques
to move into mixed media. My work is heavily influenced by spiritual
and ritual themes.
In 1987 I received the Best of Show Award at the Raleigh Octoberfest, and the next year was awarded an Emerging Artist Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council. In 1997 I received a grant from the United Arts to attend an eight-week Spring concentration workshop called Functional Porcelain with Silvie Granatelli at Penland School of Crafts in Penland North Carolina. Then that summer I was an assistant at Penland in a clay class taught by Ben Owen III. In October, 2000 I received another grant from United Arts to purchase a gas kiln. At the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Christmas Show in 2001 I received “The Award of Excellence” from Cedar Creek Gallery.
