About Me

I am a copper and textile artist. My work explores my fascination with fabrics and sculptures that adhere to the laws of metalsmithing as well as those of textiles and furthermore, present traditional textile patterns in unexpected contexts. I am interested in the juxtapositions of the new made old, the malleable made work-hardened, and the merging of fine craft techniques which may appear incompatible. I believe there is beauty and meaning in natural processes that cannot be controlled, such as decay and the transformation of surfaces through erosion and new growth.

My textile-based works are made primarily with hand-woven and hand-knitted copper wire. Weaving and knitting are techniques which interlace two distinct groups of threads and create functional or ornamental fabrics. In this way, a single wire can transform into a larger, stronger entity. For centuries, handicrafts were situated at the bottom of art's hierarchical totem pole, but now more than ever, they are at the forefront of the art world, perfectly suited to the adoption of a profoundly political topics and subversive art.

I believe that traditionally female handicrafts such as knitting, weaving, crocheting and embroidery serve not only as expressions of art, but as cathartic methods of coping and transferring grief, investigating women's personal experiences, and reflecting on political and social issues.

Originally from Danvers, Massachusetts, I am a graduate of the University of Ottawa and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. I have lived all over Canada, and now reside in Chelsea, QC with my husband and daughter. I am an active member of the Ottawa-based collectives the Enriched Bread Artists (EBA) and 44.4 Mother/Artists. I maintain a studio in downtown Ottawa (at EBA) and have taught numerous workshops across Canada. 

My adventures in art began when I learned how to knit in my mid-20s. My first real project was a pair of socks.