New Years day 2005 I had emergency surgery for a detached retina. “Awe & Wonder” was the first post surgery piece. It speaks to the awe of nature, the wonder of intellect, & the optimism & joy of life.
The pearl, shaped like a human head is looking up at the rainbow pyrite, shaped like a text bubble in a comic book. Here, I like to parody the hierarchy of value as the pearl is more rare & costly yet occupying a subservient place in the created space.
"Blood Is Thicker Than Water" invites the viewer to examine the meaning of "Family Values" and to question the way they relate to the people in their families. It addresses the path to intimacy and the dialogue between commitment & obligation.
I am passionate in exploring ideas about relationships from tertiary & superficial to deeply bonded, loving opportunities for growth as well as the relationships between materials, colors, gems and components.
“Between Us, Entre Nous” & “Cut From the Same Cloth”, articulate the possibility of strength, differences & joyful individuation as a physical object, a brooch. They are comprised of three metals, sterling silver, titanium or niobium & twenty-four karat gold with two gems, black opal & druzi quartz or ammolites.
Beneath each gem a constructed box houses tubes to hold the colored wires. The power of each separate component is united by the irregular & varied colored wires, without which the brooch or relationship would fall apart.
Relationships flourish with energetic clarity & suffer without it.
“Enrte Nous, Between Us” & “Cut From the Same Cloth” embrace the “light” of authentic relationships.
I was the first female child born in my family and was named after both of my grandmothers. My mother and her sister were the first women in our families to live long lives. My grandmothers both died long before my birth, therefore I was able to gather information about them from stories and pictures.
Sarah, my father’s mother, was born into a large family with many girls. Unlike most women of the time my grandmother and her sisters were educated. Subsequently my grandmother went on to own a business- a soap factory. She emigrated to North America then married my grandfather, a tradesman. Her married life was difficult, filled with uncertainty and poverty, but they say” she could make a meal from a carrot”.
My mother’s mother Blumeh, was fulfilled with her role as a wife and mother. At the age of ten her mother died and she became responsible for her father’s household including caring for customer’s horses. She was a balebustah, (homemaker) making noodles and raising chickens to subsidize the family income. She spoke of being “onion rich” as long as you had an onion a delicious meal could be prepared.
Eric Kagna was my first boyfiend. I was fourteen, he was fifteen years old.
When he was sixteen he became seriously ill with epilepsy. In spite of his illness Eric went on to become a lawyer specializing in music law. During this time he co-wrote three songs with Brian Adams for which he was recognized by the music industry. In early part of 2001 I received a letter from him inquiring about me and my life. I waited to respond until I went to Vancouver. When Eric returned my call I was a half block from his office. We spent time together over the next few days. On Sunday I left Vancouver, surprised that we had not spoken. On Wednesday I received a call about his death.
In Loving Memory was created as a Legacy to Eric and his life.
“Charmed” is a two sided bracelet I made for my daughter Laurel as a creative response to grief & loss.
Our beloved miniature Dacshund “Kosher”, was diagnosed with colon cancer.
The following day we gave up possession of our family home of 59 years.
Kosher’s presence cannot be replaced but can be memorialized. He will be forever in our hearts.
Many of the major pieces I have created over than the last three decades have been personal narratives about my beliefs, values and my relationships. Articulating my feelings by creating a beautiful object has been a conscious process to, and for transformation and integration.
Often these ideas take years to evolve, “Pride and Joy” is one of these pieces. It represents a celebration of three generations of my family.
“The Garden” - First Layer
The view from my kitchen window depicts my apple tree, a wonky lodge-pole pine, and my beloved Evans’ cherry tree.
This layer is repousséd, chased and anodized niobium, showing my favorite two seasons, summer on the front and spring on the back.
I transformed my urban yard into an orchard and vegetable garden. My first fruit tree was the Evan’s cherry, followed by two pears, two plums, and an apple.
“The Home” - Second Layer
The front of my house is featured with its’ anodized address numbers and light. In the doorway is my birthstone, amethyst and in the window are the birthstones of my son and daughter, ruby and pearl. With a vision, perseverance and a DIY spirit, I developed our home into a colourful, comfortable, happy place.
“The Family” - Third Layer
The final layer includes the birthstones of my daughter-in-law, grandson and granddaughter, peridot, zircon and emerald, and whatever may come in our future.
My birth due date was February 14, Valentines Day. Throughout my childhood my birthday parties had a heart theme and my cake was heart shaped.
For many years I pondered the idea of logo until “heArt” came to mind. heArt is symbolic of love, passion, the body, & most importantly, people, (he, her) & Art.
As with many artists I have visited & revisited the heArt as a wearable object with many iterations.