I was born and raised in Philadelphia. My first introduction to metalsmithing/jewelry manufacturing was at the age of 13 in Middle School. I was fortunate to have a teacher who was truly passionate about her art and about teaching, and I continued to work in that studio through High School. However, I did not seriously consider making jewelry/art for a living until I was a year into college. I transferred to the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and graduated from there in 1982. I worked in commercial jewelry as a bench mechanic for 2 years and also worked part-time in a dental laboratory. My intention at the time was to work in the dental lab field to pay bills while I worked on my art, but somehow, that turned into 10 years.I then experienced a calling to work with people (vs. “little things” all day), so I decided to attend graduate school for Art Therapy/Counseling Psychology. I completed my Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1995 and have worked in the mental health field for more than 25 years. Since 2008, I have been engaged in private practice as a licensed Professional Counselor working with children, adolescents, adults, and families.

I have remained (and will always be) an artist/craftsman. It’s the lens through which I interpret the World. As I’ve approached retirement age, I’ve experienced an increasingly strong impulse to return to the bench, to “making.” Lately, it seems I have a constant flow of ideas, themes, and forms coursing through my mind. I consider my work to be “wearable art” rather than mere bodily adornment. It’s important to me that every piece makes a definite statement. I primarily work in silver, semi-precious stones, and enamels, but also do some gold work. A common theme of my art is capturing an instant of motion or juxtaposing contrasting textures, lines and other forces. My goal is always to evoke thoughts and feelings (both positive and negative), and occasionally provoke controversy (moral, ethical, political, and otherwise).