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I have been documenting plants in the understory of Rock Creek Park and Dumbarton Oaks Park in Washington DC since 2014. From 2017-2019 I was honored to serve at as the first Artist-in-Residence for Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy. In this capacity, I learned a great deal about the complexities of ferns and the ecosystem in which they live. By late 2021, I had created a sizable collection of large scale 3- D fiber sculptures (presented in two formats 6 ft. x 3.5 ft. or 4.5 ft. square) representing ferns found in that Park and in Rock Creek Park. These pieces are very large because I want people to feel the grandeur and importance of these ancient plants. Since then, I expanded my focus on ferns to include other items found in the understory, such as samaras (“helicopter seeds” from maple trees), flowering plants, and leaves. In addition, I also enjoy making small-scale pen and ink blotted line drawings. It is a fun way to capture the unique characteristics of ferns and small plants that dwell in the forest. Mark Jenkins of the Washington Post described the two of my large-scale ferns as “verging on the majestic” and the pen and ink drawings as “charming”. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post Living, section wrote: “If the purpose of art is to make us see familiar objects afresh, this project has to be considered a success.”
Recently I was invited as an artist to serve on the “Forest Resilience Framework Team”, organized by National Park Service (NPS), with Rock Creek Conservancy, and other partners, who are evaluating the state of Rock Creek Park in order to determine how to best preserve the health of the forest. In this capacity, I play a unique role in helping to raise public awareness of our Parks and inspiring audiences to value it as a treasured resource.
Regarding the other parts of in my life: I was raised in Kentucky, graduated from Smith College, studied art at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, and practiced law at the Environmental Protection Agency. Now I practice my art full time and enjoy spending my free time hiking with family and friends.