Using Native American motifs
as a starting place, my work has taken on bold contemporary design with bright colors and a wide variety of materials.
I make character masks on gourd strata defined by wood burning, painting, inlay of semi-precious stones and inclusion
of vintage recycled materials. The objective is to create an original style that respects the Native American culture.
The masks are of sturdy construction with durable materials.
Creation of the masks is a slow process which gives me time to think about the mask characters and the lives they lived. During creation, the characters speak to me and tell their stories that I convey in masks and written tales. The mask characters and their stories convey my insight into the art forms of mask making and story telling.
A self-taught artist living in Charlotte NC, I spent my previous working career in engineering and commercial construction. Visiting relatives in Arizona expanded my exposure to masks and to gourd art, especially Hopi art. Having been inspired by the gourd work of Robert Rivera and Dave Sisk, I create my own original motifs and designs.
Creation of the masks is a slow process which gives me time to think about the mask characters and the lives they lived. During creation, the characters speak to me and tell their stories that I convey in masks and written tales. The mask characters and their stories convey my insight into the art forms of mask making and story telling.
A self-taught artist living in Charlotte NC, I spent my previous working career in engineering and commercial construction. Visiting relatives in Arizona expanded my exposure to masks and to gourd art, especially Hopi art. Having been inspired by the gourd work of Robert Rivera and Dave Sisk, I create my own original motifs and designs.