As an adult I’ve become better known as a singer and songwriter, but I always thought and hoped I’d spend my life in the visual arts. It seems, initially, my Joni Mitchell muse, won out over Monet.
I received my BFA from the University of Michigan in 1980, focusing on printmaking (etching) and figure drawing. After college, I continued printmaking in Ann Arbor, and tried my hand at other art and craft forms. I experimented with natural dying; designing and creating hand and machine-knit sweaters, sold at the Detroit Artists Market, and Collected Works, a clothing store in an Ann Arbor. I also taught myself weaving. My interest in collage was sparked after seeing some pieces exhibited by a former art school professor. What began as fascination grew into a passion.
In my “other” life, for over 30 years I’ve been a member of the singing group, The Chenille Sisters. We’ve performed throughout the US and Canada and have 12 recordings to date. I’ve written several dozen songs, many of which the Chenilles have recorded. My love is for ballads, especially those from Ireland and Scotland, and they inspire my songs and poems. It’s been pointed out to me that collage, like harmony, is a kind of balance between very different influences. Sometimes, when feeling in harmony myself, I agree! A favorite moment for me was making a collage for the cover of our 8th album, True to Life.
Throughout my touring with the Chenilles I’ve continued to make art; entering competitions and selling my work at galleries and through other outlets.
Galleries and Competitions/ Publications and Awards
GALLERIES & GROUP SHOWS
Ann Arbor: DeBoer Gallery, Claire Spitler Gallery, Borders Books & Music, Hearts for Arts, Fundraiser, Ann Arbor Symphony, Downtown Ann Arbor District Library, Zanzibar and the Northside Grill (Restaurants)
Darwin's Stained Glass, Chelsea, MI
Susannah Keith Gallery, Dexter, MI
COMPETITIONS & JURIED SHOWS
2023
The Village Theater at Cherry Hill: “Nature's Eclectic”, Collaborative Show, Canton, MI
Maude Kerns Art Center - “Not Just: A World Collage Day Exhibit”, Eugene, OR
National Association of Women Artists - "Summer Small Art Works" Exhibition, Online Show
2022
Exhibizone - Grand Prize, Online Exhibition
Art Fluent - "Wabi-Sabi", Online Exhibit
2021
Northville Art House: "Sheer Madness: Juried Collage Exhibition", Northville, MI
Northville Art House: Members Show", Northville, MI
Envision Art Gallery: "Script III: A Contemporary Collective", online exhibit
2020
Envision Arts Gallery: “Winter”, online exhibit
2019
National Association of Women Artists: "Collage/Mixed Media/Digital Art", NY, NY
Rochester Contemporary Art Center: "Cut & Paste", Rochester, NY
The Shirt Factory Gallery: “Small Works”, Glen Falls, NY
Emerge Gallery: “Cut Pieces”, Saugerties, NY
Linus Gallery: “Fragmented”, online exhibit
2018
Columbia College Columbia College: 39th Annual "Paper In Particular" Exhibition, Columbia, MO
Emerge Gallery: “Cut Pieces: A Group Exhibition of Collage Art”, Saugerties, NY
Emerge Gallery: Petit: A Group Exhibition of Smaller Sized Art”, Saugerties, NY
Main St. Arts Gallery: “Small Works” Show, Clifton Springs, NY
Vanessa Lacy Gallery: "Spring Small Works Show", Kansas City, MO
Inverness Art Centre: “Small Treasures: A Juried Small Works Show”, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
2017
Upstream Gallery: “Paperworks 2017”, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Site: Brooklyn: Cut & Paste: “Contemporary Collage”, Brooklyn, New York
Sebastopol Center for the Arts: "MARVELOUS!" International Exhibition of Collage, Assemblage and Construction, Sebastopol, CA
2016
Upstream Gallery: “Paperworks 2016”, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Site: Brooklyn: “Landscape: A Sense of Place”, Brooklyn, NY
Columbia College: 37th Annual "Paper In Particular" Exhibition, Columbia, MO
Emerge Gallery - "Petit: A Group Exhibition of Smaller Art," Saugerties, NY
Linus Gallery: "Montage", online exhibit
Mix Gallery: Solo Show, Ypsilanti, MI
Collage Artists of America - "Altered States of Collage", Tarzana, CA
2015
Postcard Art Competition & Exhibition: “PACE 2015”, Wauconda, IL
Upstream People Gallery: “17th Annual Collage, Digital & Mixed Media Juried Online International Art Exhibition
Upstream Gallery: “Paperworks 2015”, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
The Shirt Factory Gallery: “Small Works”, Glen Falls, NY
The Shirt Factory Gallery: “Multi-Media Juried Exhibition”, Glen Falls, NY
Celebrations Gallery: "Small Works: Artful Treasures", Pomfret Center, CT
Middletown Framing: Solo Show, Middletown, CT
Ann Arbor Art Center: “All Media Show”, Ann Arbor, MI
Northville Art House: “Small Works Show”, Northville, MI
2014
Upstream Gallery: “Paperworks II”, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Main St. Arts Gallery: “Small Works Show”, Clifton Springs, NY
Riverside Arts Center: Great Lakes "Small Works" Exhibition – Ypsilanti, MI
Williamsburg Art & Historical Center:“Over the Edge: Paperworks Unbound” – Brooklyn, NY
Upstream People Gallery: “16th Annual Collage, Digital & Mixed Media Juried Online International Art Exhibition
2013
University of Michigan: “7th Annual Alumni Exhibition”, Ann Arbor, MI
Upstream Gallery: “Paperworks I”, Dobbs Ferry, NY
Tampa Museum of Art: "Five by Five" Show, Tampa, FL – 2013
University of Michigan Health System: “Gifts of Art Program”, Ann Arbor, MI
2012
Lowell Arts!: “Michigan Collage, Assemblage & Construction Exhibition”, Lowell, MI
2011
Detroit Artists Market: “Small(er) Show”, Detroit, MI
Anton Art Center: "Small Wonders" Mt. Clemens, MI
National Collage Society: 2011 National Collage Society Annual Juried Exhibit (Online)
Postcard Art Competition & Exhibition: “PACE 2011”, Wauconda, IL
2009/2010
National Collage Society: 2010 National Collage Society Annual Juried Exhibit (Online)
Postcard Art Competition & Exhibition: “PACE 2009”, Wauconda, IL
CURRENT & UPCOMING SHOWS
Linus Gallery - "Fragmented", 2020 On-line Exhibit, Ongoing
Art Fluent - "Wabi-Sabi", 2022 On-line Exhibit, Ongoing
AWARDS & PUBLICATIONS
Postcard Art Competition & Exhibition (PACE):
2009 Competition - Received Merit Award
2011 Competition - Received First Place Award and Merit Award
2015 Competition – Received Merit Award
Upstream People Gallery: Online Gallery - Collage, Digital & Mixed Media Juried Online International Art Exhibition – Special Recognition Awards, 2014 & 2015.
National Association of Women Artists: Collage/Mixed Media/Digital Art Competition – Honorable Mention Award, 2019.
Envision Arts: “Winter”, Online Exhibit – Honorable Mention Award, 2020.
Northville Art House: Juried Collage Exhibition – Honorable Mention Award, 2021.
Envision Arts: "Script III: A Contemporary Collective", online exhibit - Best in Show Award, 2021.
Kolaj Magazine, Issue 6, featured in article: “First Person Reviewer”.
Carte Postale: A book containing the winning artwork from the Postcard Art Competition & Exhibition, (PACE) Lake County Discovery Museum 1995-2011.
About Me
Into the Sunset
Crevice
St. James Park
Metamorphosis
Buttoned Up
The Four of Us
