About Mosaics
Sometimes I see that life is a mosaic. The steppingstones, the bricks we build with, the objects we surround ourselves with. The leaves of the branch, the trees. The petals of the sunflower, the pattern of seeds. The cellular structures, the molecules, the stars. Our emotions, the thoughts that occupy our minds.

The placement of pieces clarifies my mind. The choices bring me into the flow of the continuum. I find a kind of elation in the spontaneity of creativity. Some paint, some write, some sing, some see into the science of things: of space and matter. I have ideas, cut glass, form clay; am thankful for all those who have prepared the materials I use.

Thankful to the earth that holds me. Thankful for not being separate. Thankful for being in creativity.

September, 2007

About the Process
My mosaics are primarily made from ceramics and glass. I incorporate stones, gems, fossils and found objects as well. The clay forms are individually crafted, bisque fired, painted with glazes and fired again at a high temperature. They are then ready to be placed on the prepared surface. Individual wall pieces and some sculpture are created on foam covered with fiberglass mesh and polymer cement. Most work is weatherproof.

The glass pieces are created by precision cutting, random shaping or fusing. I tend to approach the placement of glass pieces as marks or brushstrokes. Each piece responds to the one before it as well as to the negative spaces that will later be filled in by grout, the last step.

Three Directions
I was a teacher for many years, before I took the leap becoming a full-time artist. When I began teaching art to middle school children, I posted these words in my classroom: Art as Decoration, Art as Political and Cultural Statement, Art as Personal, Sacred Speech.
These three avenues are now ongoing in my own work. Some of my series are entirely spontaneous design. Other series are extremely personal, iconic fantasy. Also, because I am committed to helping identify and protect the wildlife passageways of New Mexico, much of my imagery includes animals, flora and fauna. I co-spearhead an extensive, cooperative community mosaic to raise awareness to this end.

My home and studio are in the Placitas foothills of the Sandia Mountains. I share a ridge top with family and friends and neighbors such as hawks, ravens, turkey vultures, rattlesnakes, bull snakes that keep the rattlers away, rabbits, coyotes, lizards, horny toads and beloved wild horses. Bears, cougars, deers and bobcats live nearby. In a wet spring, the hills are covered with yellow flowers.

Permanent Mosaic Installations in Public Locations
2008 Placitas Recycling Center Wall, Placitas, N.M.: Spearheading seven panel Community Mural
entitled Protect Our Wildlife Corridors.
2008 Accion, Albuquerque, N.M., Donor Recognition Plaque.
2008 The Range Cafe, Montgomery Blvd., Albuquerque, N.M.: Fireplace.
2007 1% For the Arts: Rio Bravo Train Station, Albuquerque, N.M. (In progress with Patricia Halloran.)
2006 Office of Jennifer Ridgeway, D.D.S., Albuquerque, N.M. : Decorative Mural.
2006 Accion New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.: Donor Recognition Plaque.
2006 Amy Biehl High School, Albuquerque, N.M.: Donor Recognition Plaque.
2005 Office of Dr. Jennifer Ridgeway, D.D.S., Albuquerque, N.M. : Decorative Murals.
2005 The Range Cafe., Wyoming Blvd., Albuquerque, N.M.: Decorative Murals.
2004 Sandia Preparatory School, Albuquerque, N.M.: Donation Mural, Student Center.
2004 The Range Cafe, Menaul Blvd., Albuquerque, N.M.: Interior border design.
2003 The Atomic Grill, Santa Fe, N.M.: Pizza Oven/Fireplace.
2002 The Range Cafe and Lizard Lounge, Bernalillo, N.M.: Fireplace.
2001 Bosque School, Albuquerque, N.M.: Donor Recognition Mural,
Peggy Findlay Fine Arts Center.
2001 Bosque School, Albuquerque, N.M.: Donor Recognition Mural,
Gerald and Betty Ford Library.
2000 Bosque School, Albuquerque, N.M.: Donor Recognition Mural, 23 Acre Club.
Administration Building.

PRIVATE HOMES Over thirty individuals have commissioned mosaics for their homes during the past six years. Most are viewable upon request.

Awards
2007 Award: Originals 2007 Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM
New Mexico Women in the Arts/ National Museum of Women in the Arts
2005 1% For the Arts: Rio Bravo Train Station, Albuquerque, N.M. (In progress with Patricia Halloran.)
2002 Award: Best In Show, New Mexico Potters Association, Harwood Art Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

Published
2009 Range Cafe Cookbook by Matt DiGreggory and Tom Fenton. Pages 39, 40.
2009 June 14th Sunday Arts Albuquerque Journal. Large photo of mosaic backsplash wrongly attributed to another artist. Page 1.
2007 Su Casa Magazine April 2007 (pages 74-77)
2004 Cover of Blue Mesa Review, Sixteen, UNM Literary Magazine.
2003 Creative Garden Mosaics by Jill Mackay, Lark Books. Page 49.

Education
BFA Major in Printmaking, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Printmaking Award
MS in Education, Specialty in Environmental Education, Queens College, N.Y.
Honors

Additional Information
Resident of New Mexico since 1975 (except for when studying for MA in New York.) Teacher from 1985-2003. Founding art teacher of Bosque School, Albuquerque. Early mosaic experimentation with many hundreds of student mosaics. 2002 Student Display of Mosaic Fish at the Outdoor Courtyard of Albuquerque Aquarium and Botanic Gardens Education Center. Previously an etcher (NM Arts and Crafts Fair Purchase Award 1976 - recently displayed in a retrospective at the Albuquerque Museum.)