Artist Statement
I am a maker. A maker of objects, images, spaces, sounds, reflections, sentences and mistakes. My heavily material based practice incorporates handcrafted objects, 2D images, as well as sound and video typically resulting in installed environments. I often combine various mediums, but the resulting works live in the domain of sculpture. Utilizing experimental casting techniques for metal and clay I fossilize memories and reflections of everyday moments and formed ideologies. Philosophical inquiry guides my studio decisions. Drawing heavily on my personal experiences of American culture I create atmospheres for the viewer to reflect and question ideas about society and themselves.
Wisdom of a process gained over time, development of a muscle memory, and an intimacy with a tool or material changes the source and scope of knowledge. Through this way of working and learning both the head and hand are engaged in the development of tacit knowledge. Within my practice I’m processing how the marks and memories of our personal pasts are insidious to who we become. I’m seeking to understand how individual identity development has led to increasing polarization. By creating or recontextualizing furniture and other domestic objects my work reconsiders our remembered histories. Remnants of process and everyday items are repurposed and function as an archive of what they once were and what they once meant. In the making of craft objects historically viewed as women’s work through processes typically assigned to male labor, I question both the place of skilled craft and gendered work in our modern society.
Solo Shows & Exhibitions
May 2019 Residual Imprints, North Gallery at the University of WA, Seattle, WA
Nov 2015 Archives of Metal & Gravity, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Residencies/ Public Art/ Commissions
Oct 2020 Sloss Metal Arts Museum, Permanent Public Work, Birmingham, AL
Oct 2020 Visiting Artist Residency, Sloss Metal Arts, Birmingham, AL
Oct 2019 Out of the Box, Jule Coins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Auburn, AL
Jan 2019 Bronze Touchable Fossil Castings for the Burke National History Museum, Seattle, WA
Jan 2018 Midwest Specialty Services Sculpture Garden, Permanent Public Work, St. Paul, MN
May 2017 Pianos on Parade, Minneapolis Downtown Council, Minneapolis, MN
Sept 2016 10,662 Nails in the Fence studio performance, Zimmerman, MN
Aug 2016 Oh Well performance at Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN
Aug 2016 Franconia Sculpture Park, Public Sculpture, Shafer, MN
Aug 2016 Hot Metal Residency at Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN
Sept 2016 Hydro-Illuminata performance iron pour, Lead Artist: James Brenner, Minneapolis, MN
June 2015 River of Iron at Northern Spark Art Festival, Lead Artist Tamsie Ringler, Minneapolis, MN
Sept 2014 North Star performance iron pour, Lead Artist: James Brenner, Shafer, MN
Group Shows & Exhibitions
Sept 2022 (Fabrication in process) Minnesota Waterfalls: A Fire Art Perspective, MSP, Bloomington, MN
Sept 2021 Casting: Transformation Exhibit, HNIA, Minneapolis, MN
Nov 2020 Foot in the Door 5, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Aug 2020 Art Connects Us, Hennepin Theatre Trust, Minneapolis, MN
June 2019 MFA Thesis Exhibition, The Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, WA
April 2019 50x50, Quarter Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
March 2019 Cobblestones & Lumber, SFAI, San Francisco, CA
Jan 2019 Surplused, UW Surplus, Seattle, WA
Sept 2018 10 Etudes, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, WA
Feb 2018 Insular, North Gallery at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Oct 2017 Hope & Anguish, Vine Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN
July 2017 DegeneraTe, Red Garage Studio, Minneapolis, MN
May 2017 Hydro-Illuminata, Homewood Studios, Minneapolis, MN
May 2017 Reflected Light, Caponi Art Park, Eagan, MN
May 2017 Made Here: Future, Hennepin Theatre Trust, Minneapolis, MN
April 2017 NCCCIAP Exhibition, Sloss Furnaces, Birmingham, AL
Aug 2017 Iron Artist Resident Show, Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN
July 2016 Art in the Park, ArtWorks Eagan at Caponi Art Park, Eagan, MN
July 2016 Manuel Transmission, Red Garage Studio, Minneapolis, MN
Jan 2016 In Their Element: Artists Inspired by Earth, Air, Water, and Fire, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
Oct 2015 SPOON, Quarter Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Oct 2015 2015 UMN Scholarship Show, Quarter Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Sept 2015 Irish Network MN Art Affair, Summit Manor, St. Paul, MN
April 2015 ReCon-DeCon, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
March 2015 Student Exhibition, Larson Art Gallery, St. Paul, MN
Jan 2015 Inspired by Uruguay, Quarter Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
April 2014 Up for Grabs, Flatlanders Art Collective, Minneapolis, MN
Jan 2014 For the Board, McNamara Alumni Center, Minneapolis, MN
Honors/ Grants/ Awards
2019 Honorable Mention Award, Out of the Box, Jule Coins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Auburn, AL
2019 Ingham Fund for Excellence, Seattle, WA
2018 Boyer and Betty Gonzales Graduate Scholarship in Art, Seattle, WA
2017 Top Scholarship, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
2017 Next Step Grant, Metropolitan Reginal Arts Council, Minneapolis, MN
2015 Wayne Potratz Scholarship, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2013 Academic Excellence Scholarship, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Professional Experience
Feb 2022- Present Wood & Metal Shop Technician, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN
Jan 2021- Present Contract Fabrication & Stoker, Chicago Ave Fire Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN
May 2015- Present McCormick Sculpture: Public Art, Art Installation, Fabrication, Minneapolis, MN
Jan 2021 Grant Panelist, Metropolitan Regional Art Council, Minneapolis, MN
June 2020 Grant Panelist, Metropolitan Regional Art Council, Minneapolis, MN
July 2016 Jury Member for New Public Works, Caponi Art Park, Eagan, MN
Dec 2015- May 2017 Program Director, Caponi Art Park, Egan, MN
Jan 2016- Fed 2016 Contractor: Building/ Installation, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Sept 2014- Jan 2016 Wood & Metal Shop Technician Assistant, University of MN Dept. of Art, Minneapolis, MN
June 2014- Feb 2015 Concept Artist/ Graphic Designer, Praxik, Minneapolis, MN
June 2014 Event Assistant, Northern Spark Art Festival, Minneapolis, MN
Oct 2013 - March 2015 Organizer, Eat for Equity, Minneapolis, MN
2006-2012 Corporate Recruiter, Several firms (details available upon request), MN & New York, NY
Teaching Experience
Nov 2013- Present Teaching Artist, Independent Contractor, Minneapolis, MN
Oct 2020 Workshop Weekend Teacher (Welding/ Casting), Sloss Metal Arts, Birmingham, AL
Sept 2016- Jan 2019 Introduction to Sculpture Instructor, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
July 2018 Mold Making Workshops for Adults with Disabilities, MSS, St. Paul, MN
May 2015- Sept 2015 Nature Based Art Instructor, Caponi Art Park, Egan, MN
March 2015 Casting & Mold Making Instructor, The FAIR School, Minneapolis, MN
June 2014- July 2017 Kids Make Sculpture Teacher, Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN
July 2012- June 2013 Volunteer Tutor, Boys and Girls Club, Minneapolis, MN
July 2012 - Oct 2013 Mentor/ Volunteer Art Teacher, Free Arts Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Education
2017 – 2019 M.F.A in Sculpture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
2013 – 2015 B.F.A in Studio Art, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
2013 Study Abroad Program: The Arts of Uruguay (UMN), Minneapolis, MN
2009 - 2013 B.S. in Business, Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis, MN
2007 - 2009 A.A. Degree, St. Paul College, St. Paul, MN