Artist’s Statement
Light has played a major part in my work throughout my career, from photography to the etched metal, ceramic and slate murals on which the surface conditions were worked for reflectivity, to the large kiln formed art glass walls that displayed color and movement in a dance of light. Lightpaintings have evolved from all that has gone before.
Layers of shadow, textures and change and how they affect our perception of an object has long been a fascination. Dialogues with engineers and manufacturers and fabricators have been a constant in my work. I’ve researched materials and history for site specific pieces, melding today’s technologies and resources with hints of the past. I use factories and fabricators as my tools, often refining processes and developing new techniques so my vision can become reality. My personal work follows the same approach, inspired by the work of many cultures and many people, creators of objects and dreams.
The collaborative process of working with architects, designers, fabricators and factories has much to do with the success of my work. Pushing and tugging to achieve a balance, with the resulting synergy, often leads to a solution which would not have been achieved separately.
Kiln formed glass became a prime focus as an unrivaled receptor for color, light and movement, migrating across the surface, making it a kinetic, vibrant medium. By weaving abstract designs in glass I was able to let viewers bring more of themselves into what they see.
Lightpaintngs continue this tradition. Dreams and imagination command much of our lives when we are young, yet time and society move us into structures that leave little time for them. In lightpaintings I strive to create destinations, small pieces of wonder, places for introspection and meditation where hopes, dreams and aspirations are possible
Entering a lightpainting or any work of art invokes a conditional promise to do so with open eyes, to be aware of possibilities. Perception and interaction lead to an act of mutual discovery, a universal bond of our existence. There is no right answer hidden within each piece, only a shared journey.
