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ABOUT THE ARTIST | ARTIST'S STATEMENT| MY WORK TABLE
I grew up in the Bronx in an artistic Bohemian family.
As a matter of fact, I was convinced that
being an artist was how most people made their living.
My mother, a painter, never felt fully dressed without four necklaces on and some exotic textile
draped around her.
My father, a sculptor and true Renaissance man,
worked as a model and mold maker for a toy
company.
As a young child, I would go to my father's workshop in New York City on the weekends.
While he worked, I was able to hone my skills
carving plaster, chasing on copper and getting
comfortable with his tools.
I went to Parsons School of Design,
where I studied graphic design and fashion illustration;
but
what I really wanted to do was paint.
In 1971, I packed up and moved to Berkeley, California, where I still reside.
In 1985, after years of painting,
working with beads, and buying and selling vintage jewelry,
I
decided to start working in metal.
I began to take classes in metalsmithing,
took books out of the library, and started to teach
myself.
I asked my father for some of his old chasing tools and hammers
(many of which he had made
himself).
Soon after that, I set up a studio and showroom.
In 1991, my interest in the needs of studio artists
led me to co-found Berkeley Artisans Holiday
Open Studios
(a self guided tour of professional artisan workshops),
an event which I still run.
My work has been in numerous juried exhibitions,
and is sold through galleries and my
own studio and showroom.
I welcome visitors to the studio by appointment, and during special Open Houses.