Artist Statement

It seems to me that the way we treat each other is a reflection on how we treat our environment: lacking respect, compassion and understanding. Perhaps when we begin to care for our fellow Human beings, we will then begin to care for our Natural world and find a gracious balance.

Biography

Calgary is my home these days but I was raised by the mighty Miramichi River in the small village of Nelson, New Brusnwick. My childhood days evolved around the woods, brooks, and exploring the river’s shoreline. Growing up close to nature it is no surprise that the work I produce is largely informed and directed by the inexhaustible inspiration provided through the Natural environment. Equally important are notions of universal symbolism seen in forms of eggs, birds, rabbits, and horses: an intriguing aspect of human nature. Woven into these forms is the primitive connection of nature, clay, and the raku firing process. Raku is my passion. It is an abstract spiritual journey to nothingness. A journey, which keeps me working in clay: still trying to resist the temptations of extraneous decorations not yet achieving the “monochromatic silence” which I believe is the true essence of Raku. But how does one capture the flutter of a dragonfly’s wings beating through a soft summer breeze? I was first introduced to the Raku firing process at the School of Art and Design, Fredericton, New Brunswick, and was extremely taken by the process and have continued to practice, teach, and develop my own style of contemporary Raku. It’s been my good fortune to have my work in homes and galleries throughout Canada and around the World including England, Johanessberg and across the U.S.A.