ARTIST STATEMENT

From the sprawling mulberry trees that sheltered my childhood home in the Piedmont of North Carolina, to the stoic tulip poplars of the Blue Ridge Mountains where I work today, trees have quietly shaped my life. I climb them. I hike among them. And reverently—I carve them.

My finishing process is varied—including oxidized bronze and iron coatings, chalk paints, natural hard waxes, fire, burnishing, and even shellac, applied in the tradition of ancient artisans. Yet beneath these varied surfaces, every sculpture begins as an unassuming block of wood. Wood is warm, organic, and abundant—a natural medium for my loose, expressive approach and my enduring themes of love and resilience.

Unwanted, uprooted, or fallen trees still have stories to tell. Through my work, they live on, speaking to others in ways that honor their histories. I am honored to give them new life and share their stories.

In the forest, my heart sings.
To the silent language of trees, I listen.
And through my work, I give the forest a voice.

EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

2026
“Quiet Wisdom,” Fourth Annual Juried Fine Art Exhibition — Transylvania Community Arts Council, Brevard, NC

2026
”Unbreakable: Tree & Water,” Art Blooms outdoor exhibit April 2026 - March 2027, Smith-Gilbert Gardens, Kennesaw, GA

2025
“Guardian of Innocence,” honorable mention, Third Annual Juried Fine Art Exhibition — Transylvania Community Arts Council, Brevard, NC

2024
Feature Artist, The Laurel of Asheville