The Inspiration of Place

 ​I am an East coaster gone West. I grew up in Buffalo NY, spent some time in the deep South, then moved to Atlanta and finally Cheyenne Wyoming. I traveled West with artistic angst. What would my voice in the West be? I’d been working with natural materials and themes unique to the South. I had no feeling or aptitude for the figure or animals so bison and cowboys were out. What was left? The landscape! Driving towards Cheyenne that first November, I struggled to describe what I was seeing. Few trees, brown hills, vast horizons and giant skies. What was this foreign country? The phrase, “Undulating hills of brown suede,” floated into my consciousness. Little did I know that textiles would become my medium and voice to interpret Wyoming’s fascinating geology and unique landscape.

 15 years later, I am still using textiles to make work about this land that has become my home. I have traveled to many interesting places in the West and met many unique Westerners. In recognition of this, I will be showing my work influenced by Wyoming's geology and featuring a few of those unique and friendly people I have met! If you are in Cheyenne during the months of March and April, I hope you will stop by Blue Door Arts located in Downtown Cheyenne and say hello!