Artist's Statement

In my opinion, the ancient peoples of the world had more in common than most modern people think.  They built shelters; they harvested or caught food to feed their families; they made clothing; they dug up clay and made vessels and other things they needed and found a way to make them waterproof; they created weapons to defend themselves and to hunt; they believed in a power greater than themselves; and they formulated laws of some sort in order to live together in groups.  

I have always been interested in the structures and artifacts that ancient cultures have left behind.  My husband and I have made several trips to the American southwest, to see various ruins and museums of the Anazasi, or "ancient ones."  We have also traveled to England to see the stone circles there, most notably Stonehenge, which was very impressive.    The Mayan ruins in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula were spectacular.  The items we see in museums are functional as well as beautiful, so we know the ancient artisans had creativity and pride in their work.  We are all the distant descendants of these ancient peoples, and I think that is why I am so drawn to their artifacts.  I feel a real connection to our ancestors.

When I create my art work, I try to imagine myself as an artisan in ancient times, and attempt to make items of use and beauty.   In my mind's eye, I try to accumulate all the images I have seen, in photographs as well as in person, and knead them together to create something new, but that has the 'flavor' of something quite old.   I want my work to connect the past to the present, and communicate the message that we are all one people on this Earth of ours.