Inevitability, 2021

This sculpture piece is based on the notion of fleeting happiness. The transitions in both the petals and leaves equate to a motion through time, where what once provided joy no longer does. The choice to move forward, leaving older parts of oneself behind to embrace the new, has the ability to also create a warped sense of self. It becomes a double-edged sword, embodying the duality of seeking happiness, and paying the cost of achieving it. *This flower is scented with neroli when on display *

Such is Life, 2021

Crafted to represent past mistakes and negative criticism, carnations sprout off of a vine-like chain and wrap around the body. My chains often represent a bond with people, in both negative and positive contexts. The copper wire within the petals themselves is where wilting transitions into rust with age. The choice to wear such a visually disruptive piece is a choice to continue to carry the weight of the past on one's shoulders instead of relinquishing it in anticipation of a brighter future.

Sense and Sensitivities, 2021

Miniature bouquets, called nosegays or tussie-mussies, are specifically made as adornments for the body. They were originally used as a coded language between lovers using floriography. In this set, I encapsulated those moments of love and devotion; the haloing, cloud-nine, warm and fuzzy emotions of two individuals that can be felt in the soft glow of my incorporated LEDs. I wrapped each bouquet in floral tape and placed them in cloth pockets to indicate their wearability within a gallery.

Your Laughter Still Echoes, 2021

Using the meanings of various flowers, I created a soft sculpture to represent the grief one feels over words left unsaid when loved ones pass on. This bouquet embodies the regret of not telling someone their importance in your life. It is capturing the healing beauty of the grieving process and preparing the heart to move forward, having learned from past mistakes. Although intended for a specific individual in my past, it serves as a permanent reminder for all to live a life without remorse.

Shell Pendant 2, 2021

Natural shell beads threaded through half of a shell, wire wrapped to form a pendant

Shell Pendant 1, 2021

Natural shell bead threaded through half of a shell, wire wrapped to form a pendant

Nature vs Progress, 2021

The grinding gears of future innovation entangle with the forces of nature in a handwoven pendant with natural hematite.

Whoops-a-Daisy, 2021

This pendant represents an unyielding strength and durability in the struggle of prioritizing the care of others over oneself. Each petal as a pivotal moment, an interaction with someone and the part of myself that I gifted to them. Reacting to the continuous pressure to stay strong, the body itself begins to break down and deteriorate; cracks and bruising appear on the daisy's surface, while the woven rope provides a comforting, and supportive structure of hope in times of hardship.

Body Scanning, 2021

A wearable piece based on emotions of fear, anxiousness, stress, and worry. Its construction relates to the understanding of how emotions manifest into biological responses such as: tension headaches, shaking hands, and stomach churning, to name a few. The inspiration for this adornment comes from a meditation technique of directing one's concentration to discomfort felt in various parts of the body. The columbine embraces the beauty we find within the negative feelings we each experience.

Lonesome Hyacinth, 2020

Purple Hyacinth is the flower of sorrow. It is gifted as an apology to the recipient. The shadow behind, made of patinated copper, is a projection of how the human emotion of sadness presents itself through the use of body language. It is part 2 in a series that embraces the hidden meanings of flowers in the forms of the shadows behind them.

Being Thankful, 2020

Based on a globe flower, the copper petalled pendant is symbolic of gratitude, a reminder to be thankful for what one has in the moment instead of pining for what one wants instead. It is held together with a sterling silver wire, wrapped to form a bail.

Frustrated Tansy

The Tansy is the flower used to declare war. It is a symbol of hatred towards a particular person. The shadow behind, made of patinated copper, is a projection of how the human emotion of anger presents itself through the use of body language. It is part 1 in a series that embraces the hidden meanings of flowers in the forms of the shadows behind them.

Weeping Willow, 2020

Inspired by the sweeping branches of willow trees, this piece gently wraps around the head and cascades down the face with a shimmering elegance. It embodies the comforting and healing beauty of crying; a sweet release of emotion that rejuvenates the soul.

Greed and Apathy, 2020

In the background, the Doomsday clock looms, counting down the minutes to the end of the world. In the foreground, the Earth dries and cracks with little to no nutrients left. Only a single shriveled dandelion stem remains; Its wisping seeds a final wish to return the world to a state of peace and tranquility. *Part of the permanent collection: "Visible Voices" at RIT City Art Space, Rochester, NY *

3D Model for Weeping Willow, 2020

The Blues of Sunshine, 2020

A mellowed sunflower, outgrowing its tiny pot, scouts for any ray of light that may fall upon it. It perches on the hand in its connection to the ground, a hope for a green gardener's thumb to stumble upon it and revitalize its original, brilliant colors.

Copper Rosette, 2020

Copper rose ring made from a single hand-cut strip of metal sheet -material exploration

Gemstone Pendant, 2020

A first attempt at weaving with titanium wire, with a blue/green onyx

Bronze Pendant, 2020

Bronze natural form casting, made from pouring molten metal over candy coated peanuts, wire wrapped with bronze wire to form a pendant

Tiger Iron Pendant, 2020

Tiger Iron stone wire wrapped with copper on brass, and patinated with liver of sulfur

Finding Home, 2020

First attempt at a wire wrapped setting with moss agate, a symbol of new beginnings

Work-in-progress: Personal Growth, 2020

First attempt at sweat soldering, a moveable pendant that will be shaped into a box that can unfold to reveal a full tree; the idea of a tree of life spreading outward as it grows, removing the containment it was once put in

Work-in-progress: Nature and Neurology

Sheetmetal formed and sawed to represent the neural network of the brain as a tree's branches, connecting the structural similarities of plants to animals

Sheep, 2019

A random doodle

Minding the Garden, Part 1: Anxiety, 2019

Anxiety is purple due to the color’s association with emotional sensitivity, and heightened empathy. The flower has wide open petals to absorb information about its environment, and shows an irritated stance with the presence of the butterfly. Anxiety's butterfly is an abstract clock, constantly pestering it about deadlines, wasted opportunities, and other daily stresses. The series, Minding the Garden, views mental issues as a set of experiences rather than the identity of an individual.

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Patience to Bloom, 2019

A visual transition from bud to full bloom, this brooch symbolizes a time of personal growth. The notion of growing up as a means of growing into the best version of yourself, is a combination of opening up to the outside world while also deepening your roots in a life cycle of self discovery.

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A Play on Definitions: To Canvas, 2018

This piece is a physical representation of an exploration into synonyms relating to the definition of "to canvas". The word canvas means to cover, and chainmaille's purpose is to cover a human body like a canvas covers a frame. The pattern in the rings is representative of textiles, which are a woven fabric much like traditional chainmaille. Textiles are also considered to be blankets and relate back to the definitions to canvas, to cover, and to blanket.

Trapped in Limbo, 2017

This necklace is a visual representation of what goes on in my mind when feeling stuck in a state of limbo. The figure can clearly escape its cage, but refuses because it does not know where it will go next. The chain features spiral links which indicate a state of repetition. This is also established in the sides of the cage. The glass is representative of the static disarray the mind experiences in which fear and confusion are abundant.

“‘Social’ Anxiety”-2016

The design is an abstraction of a shackle with ball and chain, symbolizing slavery. Because this is a wearable piece with a clasp, it represents a willingness to enslave ourselves.The weight on the chest and “suffocation” of the throat are common physical feelings associated with social anxiety. When current media is becoming a constant companion in our lives, it becomes harder and harder to ignore all of the notifications, tweets, and uploads.

"Getting Back to Our Roots"-2016

This ring is a representation of our struggle to reconnect with nature. I have chosen a willow tree because it is known for its healing properties. The silver chain wrapping around the tree represents humans attempting to return to their roots in nature after living in an industrialized world.

“A Lifetime of Connections”-2016

This piece is designed to be an ongoing project to convey how difficult it is to remain connected to people as more of them enter your life. Each link on my canvas is representative of someone that I have met that has had an impact on my life. I do not feel it is important for my audience to know who each person is. Instead I would rather ask “If you were a link on here, which one would you be and why?” This is another way to encourage interaction between myself and my audiences.

"Social Warmth"-2016

This garden represents a group of friends. The majority of them have warm colored metals around their stems and the rose has cooler colors. This goes into the idea of social warmth relating to physical warmth; meaning that when one feels lonely they tend to feel physically colder. The rose, a symbol for myself, is encased in chainmaille to represent the wall of protection one puts up when in unfamiliar situations and hindrance of the wall of social anxiety when trying to interact with others.

"Social Re-generation"-2016

My bracelet shows the circle of human life from infancy, to education, to love, to reproduction. It represents the connections between each stage in the growth of a person where a child is born into a family and the focus is on the child's aging into adulthood. I chose to use wool because I wanted this piece to be warm and inviting. The chain is a half byzantine which produces very subtle arrows indicating the direction the symbols should be read in.

“Connective Intellect”-2016

The human brain makes connections between either side. The left side being the rational and logical side, and the right being more creative and abstract.

"Self Portrait"-2015

My identification with flowers as well as my love of chains combined very well into this piece. The stone is an amethyst with a flower cut, to repeat the shape of the whole piece. I chose this gemstone because I have always been infatuated with the color purple. Each link was constructed out of wax rods and linked together before casting. But the ring base was carved out of a wax block.

"Permanent Chains"-2015

An exploration of the idea that relationships can be both solid and flexible, permanent and impermanent. The flexible chains are composed of nickel silver, the solid of sterling silver, and the cubic zirconium is held in brass prongs.

"Box Casting"-2014

The chains and pendant featured in this box casting were carved out of sculptor's clay, made into a rubber mold, transferred to plaster, and then cast with Neo Lavender glass billets. The entire process takes over a month, but the results are worth the effort. I designed this piece to be loosely reminiscent of a ship wreck. The chains are aligned like an anchor stuck in the sand and the pendant as part of the spoils that fell overboard.

"Pareidolia: Secret Waldo"-2014

Waldo is a prime example of seeing a picture that is unintentionally created. The piece was originally intended to be a nonrepresentational glass plate, which took on characteristics of a face during the carving processes. The pillow frame was constructed to fit Waldo's profile and thus, the piece became an abstract representation of the famous "Where's Waldo" character.

"Coming Home"-2014

This piece is a "painting" created with frit on a clear glass sheet and then framed with cloth. As this was being created, it developed a story about a confederate soldier coming home after the war.

"Drop-Ring"-2014

During an exploration of materials, I worked to create a non-representational piece exclusively for drawing attention to the diversity of physical textures. The monochromatic pallet brings attention to the details of the unique surfaces found in the glass and wool roving. The glass bowl is made from root beer bottles that I had broken, layered, and melted together. And the roving was hand dyed to match the rich browns needed for the piece.

"Morph"-2014

This is an IBC root beer bottle necklace on braided sock yarn. It was the first in a series of necklaces I have created with the idea that each one is an individual with a story just like the wearer would be. Morph got its name from the character on the movie Treasure Planet.

"Utah"-2014

Utah got its name because it resembles the arches in Arches National Park, Utah. Utah is an IBC root beer bottle pendant on a phoenix tail braid.

"Fatso"-2014

Fatso got its name because of the weight it carries and the size it has compared to its five brothers and sisters. Fatso is an IBC root beer pendant on finger knitted yarn.

"Piggy"-2014

Piggy got its name because its top corners look like folded pig ears. Piggy is an IBC root beer bottle pendant on diamond finger knitted yarn.

"Eskimo"-2014

Eskimo got its name because it looks like a person in a big coat with buttons on it. Eskimo is an IBC root beer bottle pendant on mohair yarn strands.

"Ribbons"-2014

Ribbons got its name because of the unique ribbon-like appendage jutting from its left side. Ribbons is an IBC root beer bottle pendant on a twisted ribbon.

"Untitled"-2014

This was a glass necklace made for my amazing photographer in 2014 who helped me out during the time that I did not have access to a camera. It is on finger crocheted cotton tape yarn.

"Untitled"-2014

This glass pendant was made from frit balls which were individually placed on a kiln sheet and fired before filling the mold. It is on finger crocheted cotton tape yarn.

"Dilution Solution"-2014

I wanted this piece to be able to blend in like a wall flower would in a crowded room. However, the squares in the center have a delightful sparkle that can only be seen at certain angles. I really like my work to have small details like this to encourage viewers to take the time to look at artwork instead of passing it by.

Glass Beads on Hemp Cord

Glass beads made from IBC root beer bottles on cord in a phoenix tail braid

"Untitled"-2014

This necklace was made out of CD-Rom guts and findings. It was for an Upcycled show in Denver.

"Skull 2"-2012

Drawing with white pencil on black paper

"Skull 1"-2012

Drawing with white pencil on black paper