136th Annual Exhibition

My dancer-muse paused after her stretch upward, seemingly to let the music flow around her. Movement catches my eye, and portraying this fluidity has become one of my overlying themes. After decades of photographing, I often see my world through the lens of a camera. In my more recent photo-encaustic work, I first portray my subject photographically. Then I more fully explore the image and its meaning, I add encaustic wax and build layers of layers of texture and depth.

I am a biochemical engineer turned artist. Using fast-drying acrylics, unconventional tools, and collage, I embrace spontaneity and imperfection. My paintings evolve intuitively, revealing textured layers and organic meaning while exploring interconnectedness across science, cultures, disciplines, and inner and outer worlds. This piece reflects how the fundamental structures of life take on fluid, rhythmic forms. The Guanine (G) molecule—a nucleotide of DNA—transforms into a dynamic dancer, its movement inspired by my own dance practice and echoing the invisible forces that shape all living beings. Each pink dot marks an atom within guanine’s structure, labeled as C (carbon), H (hydrogen), N (nitrogen), or O (oxygen), reflecting its true formula, C₅H₅N₅O. Flowing organic elements, scientific notations, and ethereal light intertwine, bridging the molecular and the cosmic. Like the series it belongs to, this painting dissolves boundaries—between science and art, structure and spontaneity—to celebrate the shared essence of existence.

The gorgeous annual mum show at Smith College was the inspiration for this collage

By embracing the change of how nature and everything in its existence come and go I see not short life spans of living things, but the dynamic cycle of life in every shape and form.

Sometimes it is difficult to find the right path forward. Nature beckons and also challenges as we enter the puzzle.

Joy, happiness, anxiety, pain, grief… any and all emotion that come with being a parent or caregiver-- my work explores the idea of memory, motherhood, children, health, life, place, and identity. While investigating the role of the caregiver lilies and their pads are not only beautiful, but they are also caretakers of the ecosystem in which they live. They purify the pond water and create a protective home for aquatic creatures—such as fish and frogs.

The Talisman series began as free experimentation with watery acrylic and ink on paper. Gradually a central portal or entity emerged. In Talisman #8, I also used molding paste for texture and the application of a linoleum block.

Downtown Chicago has a handful of 7-Eleven stores. Often, they are in beautiful, older buildings. I love the bright colors and clutter.

I explore the thought process revealing multilevel reflections of my inner self. My artwork addresses the collaboration between nature and culture by abstracting movement, force and tension.

The Italians call marble the "tears of the gods". It is an elegant material to sculpt, as it allows expression from the most delicate to the monumental, highly polished to natural texture, allowing light to penetrate and emanate from its surface. I enjoy shaping such a hard material as marble into sensuous, flowing forms that suggest the human spirit. When I leave elements unfinished or the natural stone the viewer is invited to complete sculpture in their mind’s eye.

This small 2022 marble sculpture is an invitation for stargazing. More than half of the world's population lives in cities so we forget and overlook the innate relationship with the Universe. Beyond light pollution, there exists above our heads the same night sky, the same Milky Way, the same stars and galaxies that make no difference whatsoever between humans on Earth who might, if they wish to do so, look up and learn more about the sound waves of stars.