Artist Statement

Through the physical manipulation of wood and steel, I want to create visually dynamic objects. Movement in the Steel forms and stasis of the carved wood and together they become one.

I am heavily influenced by lines and forms in my surrounding environments such as how tree branches create various lines and negative spaces. In the process of manipulating the materials, my hands have been enormously influential resources. Not only do my hands offer inspiration, they are by far most my used tools, and ultimate resources in making my sculptures. The lines, curves, mass and movement in my hands grab my eyes. The curve at the end of the fingertips produces a smooth line. The mass of the palm creates dramatic volume.

Carving the wood helps me understand the material. I sit in a chair and hold it in between my thighs to define the shapes. The vibrations of chiseling, rasping, and grinding travel through my body make me feel connected with the wood.

In order to achieve smooth curved lines using the steel rod, I do not use heat during the forming process. I use only my bare hands and body to shape and form the curves. Throughout the method, I become aware of movement in the steel rod.

I experience a change in the nature of the materials through audios, visuals, and physical sensations. I am passionate about these sensations of the materials moving around me and feeling the vibration running through my body. This physical contact and interaction with the materials, I become one with my work. Through all my senses, I experience the physical transformation of materials and become one with the object.