Studio Information
Art Works Downtown
8
About The Artist
I’ve been drawn to creating with my hands since early childhood. Having explored many different mediums, I have found that weaving provides the perfect balance of structure and freedom. The canvas starts as blank warp ends threaded on my loom, while the design builds line by line in a slow reveal until the piece is finished. It’s not until the tapestry is cut from the loom that I see the work in its entirety and it takes on a life of its own.
My designs are intentionally spare, often abstract, and minimalist in style and composition. Small design details are embedded in the work, allowing the observant viewer to discover them on closer examination. I enjoy experimenting with materials, compositions, themes and perspectives.
My inspirations range from traditional masks of the Pacific Northwest to the sculptures of Henry Moore. These artists share an aesthetic that emphasizes form and simplicity by reducing a subject to its essence. The result may be simple, direct, emotional, sometimes fantastical, allowing space for each viewer to bring their own life experience to the piece. I liken my compositional style to music, in some ways similar to jazz rhythms that create balance without symmetry.
Some of my tapestries reflect an inner call for peace, our need for retreat and self-renewal. These works are often inspired by Nature, such as Coastal Fog and Vanishing … Other works, in my “Finding Voice” series, comment on the intensifying discord in our world. Recent themes have included such issues as climate change, immigration, racial injustice, the COVID pandemic, increasing political polarization, and the need to create an equitable world for our children.
Weaving attracts me for its simplicity: two opposing sets of threads twining together to create a whole. Working at the loom provides me the opportunity to sit in the stillness of my thoughts, allowing my hands to think.
INTERNATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITIONS
- American Tapestry Biennial 14, Appalachian Center for Craft, TN Tech U., Smithville, TN 2023
- Heallreaf 4: International Exhibition of Woven Tapestries, Sedbergh, Chichester, and Birmingham, ENG, 2022
- Kate Derum Award Finalist, South Melbourne, Australia, 2021 (also 2017)
- International Fiber Arts X, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA, 2021
- American Tapestry Biennial 13, San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, San Jose, CA and Highfield Hall and Gardens, Falmouth , MA, 2021
- Small Tapestry International 6: Beyond the Edge, Northwestern State
- University, Natchitoches, LA and Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, 2019
- 1st International Tapestry Exhibition, Oakville, ON, Canada, 2019
- World Tapestry Now: American Tapestry Biennial 12, 2018
- Small Tapestry International 5: Crossroads, ATA, Denton, TX and Tacoma, WA, 2017
- American Tapestry Biennial 11, Contemplating the Sublime, South Bend Museum of
- Art and Mulvane Art Museum, 2016, & San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, 2017
- Small Tapestry International 4, Honoring Tradition, Inspiring Innovation
- Northwestern State University, Natchiloches, LA, Biggs Museum of Art, Dover, DE, and Artspace, Raleigh, NC, 2015
- Northwestern National Fiber Exhibition, The Wichita Center for the Arts, 2015
MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
- 43rd Annual Contemporary Crafts Exhibition, Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Mesa, AZ, 2022
- Craft Biennial Exhibition, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA, 2022
- MORE IMPACT: Climate Change, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, San Jose, CA, 2021-2022
- Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, 40th Annual Contemporary Crafts Exhibition, Mesa, AZ, 2019
- AbstrAction, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA, 2017
- Juncture, San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, San Jose, CA, 2017
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
- LeeAnn Brook Fine Art Gallery, Nevada City, CA, 2019
- Belvedere Tiburon Library, Tiburon, CA, 2019 (& 2017)
- Marin Art & Garden Center, Ross, CA, 2017
- Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce, Mill Valley, CA, 2017
- Thompson Dorfman Partners, Mill Valley, CA, 2017
- Gail Van Dyke Atrium Gallery, Marin Cancer Care, Greenbrae, CA, 2016
- Mill Valley City Hall, Mill Valley, CA, 2016
JURIED GALLERY EXHIBITIONS
- The Color of Water, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA 2023
- Gems V, Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA, 2022
- (EM)power (EM)brace (EM)body, Surface Design Association, Online Exhibit, 2022–2023
- Art to Amuse and Delight, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA, 2022
- Shift, Tapestry Weavers West, Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA, 2022
- Crocker Kingsley, Crocker Art Museum & Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA, 2021
- Craft Nouveau, Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA, 2020
- IMPACT: Climate Change, Belmont, MA and San Francisco, CA, 2019-2020
- Bridge to Abstraction, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2019
- A Sense of Place, Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA, 2019
- Intertwined, Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Healdsburg, CA, 2018
- Thread Count: New Directions in Fiber Art, Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA, 2018
- Emotion, Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA, 2017
- With Respect to Nature | 3 artist invitational, Liberty Arts, Yreka, CA, 2017
- Paper as Voice, Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA, 2017
- Pacific Time Zone, The Arts Center, Corvallis, OR, 2016
- Musical, Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA, 2016
- Marin Contemporary, Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA, 2016
- Architecture, Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA, 2016
- Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA, 2018 (also 2015 & 2016)
PUBLICATIONS & CATALOGS
- Heallreaf 4, Exhibition Catalog, 2022
- Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Contemporary Crafts Exhibition Online Catalog, 2022
- American Tapestry Biennial 13, Exhibition Catalog, 2021
- Crocker Kingsley, A National Art Exhibition Catalog, 2021
- Designs included in Tapestry Design, Basics & Beyond, by Tommye Scalin, Schiffer Publishing, 2021
- Craft Nouveau: International Fiber Catalog, Blue Line Arts, 2020
- IMPACT: Climate Change, Exhibition Catalog, 2019
- Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Contemporary Crafts Exhibition Catalog, 2019
- Small Tapestry International 6: Beyond the Edge, Exhibition Catalog, 2019
- Canadian Tapestry and Texture Centre: Premier International Tapestry Exhibition, 2019
- World Tapestry Now, American Tapestry Biennial 12, Exhibition Catalog, 2018
- ATA 12th International Unjuried Small Tapestry Exhibition Catalog, 2018
- Excellence in Fibers Online Gallery Exhibition Catalog, 2017
- ATA Small Tapestry International 5: Crossroads, Exhibition Catalog, 2017
- Kate Derum Award for Small Tapestries, Finalists Exhibition Catalog, Australian Tapestry Workshop, 2017
- Review of Susan Iverson workshop, Pulling Warp/Pushing Ideas, ATA Tapestry Topics, 2017
- American Tapestry Biennial 11, Exhibition Catalog, 2016
- ATA 11th International, Unjuried Small Tapestry Exhibition Catalog, 2016
- ATA Small Tapestry International 4, Exhibition Catalog, 2015
- Featured Artist, Fiber Art Now Magazine: On View Feature: Prism, Spring, 2015 Edition
- The Wichita Center for the Arts: National Fiber Directions, Exhibition Catalog, 2015
AFFILIATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
- Board Member, American Tapestry Alliance: 2020 –2022
- Committee Member, Gail Van Dyke Atrium Gallery, Marin Cancer Center, 2016-present
- Board Member, Art Works Downtown: 2012 – 2014
- Studio Artist, Art Works Downtown
- Member, Surface Design Association
- Member, Handweavers Guild of America
- Member, Textile Arts Council
- Member, Tapestry Weavers West
- Webinar: “Textiles and Tea,” Handweavers Guild of America, May 2021
- Presentation for Tapestry Weavers West: “Tapestries, Inspiration and Process,” March 2018
- Panel Discussion: “Contemplating the Sublime,” San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles 2017
- Presentation for Tamalpais Textile Arts Guild: “Innovations in Tapestry” January 2016
EDUCATION
- B. A. in Social Anthropology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- Workshops through Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and American Tapestry Alliance
Fiber
Contact Information
(415) 235-8245
Exhibitions & Press
Current and Upcoming Exhibitions:
The Color of Water: Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA. Dates: 2/11/23 – 3/26/23. Juror; Lori Austin. Artwork: Coastal Fog
(EM)power (EM)brace (EM)body: Surface Design Association, Online exhibition surfacedesign.org Dates: 11/2022 – 2/2023. Juror; Katayoun Bahrami. Artwork: Life Without CHOICE
Small Expressions: HGA, Edison Gallery, Foothills Arts Center, 321 E. Main Street, Elkin, North Carolina. Dates: 1/1/23 – 3/31/23. Juror; Cameron Taylor-Brown. Artwork: A Nod to Gee’s Bend
American Tapestry Biennial 14: ATA, Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Tech University, 1560 Craft Center Dr, Smithville, TN. Date: 5/12/23 – 7/20/23. Juror; Rena Wood. Artwork: Life Without CHOICE
Art Walk: San Rafael 2nd Friday of the Month Art Walk; Art Works Downtown, 1325 4th St, Studio 8, San Rafael, 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Upcoming Dates: 2/10/2, 3/10/23, 4/14/23, 5/12/23, 6/9/23, 7/14/23.
Heallreaf 4, Exhibition Catalog, 2022
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Contemporary Crafts Exhibition Online Catalog, 2022
American Tapestry Biennial 13, Exhibition Catalog, 2021
Crocker Kingsley, A National Art Exhibition Catalog, 2021
Designs included in Tapestry Design, Basics & Beyond, by Tommye Scalin, Schiffer Publishing, 2021
Craft Nouveau: International Fiber Catalog, Blue Line Arts, 2020
IMPACT: Climate Change, Exhibition Catalog, 2019
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Contemporary Crafts Exhibition Catalog, 2019
Small Tapestry International 6: Beyond the Edge, Exhibition Catalog, 2019
Canadian Tapestry and Texture Centre: Premier International Tapestry Exhibition, 2019
World Tapestry Now, American Tapestry Biennial 12, Exhibition Catalog, 2018
ATA 12th International Unjuried Small Tapestry Exhibition Catalog, 2018
Excellence in Fibers Online Gallery Exhibition Catalog, 2017
ATA Small Tapestry International 5: Crossroads, Exhibition Catalog, 2017
Kate Derum Award for Small Tapestries, Finalists Exhibition Catalog, Australian Tapestry Workshop, 2017
Review of Susan Iverson workshop, Pulling Warp/Pushing Ideas, ATA Tapestry Topics, 2017
American Tapestry Biennial 11, Exhibition Catalog, 2016
ATA 11th International, Unjuried Small Tapestry Exhibition Catalog, 2016
ATA Small Tapestry International 4, Exhibition Catalog, 2015
Featured Artist, Fiber Art Now Magazine: On View Feature: Prism, Spring, 2015 Edition
The Wichita Center for the Arts: National Fiber Directions, Exhibition Catalog, 2015
Education
B. A. in Social Anthropology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Workshops through Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, American Tapestry Alliance, and others.
