My work is a response to things I find beautiful, and an attempt to capture that beauty in an object I can possess, wear, and take with me.  I’m not interested in re-creating traditionally beautiful things, such as flowers, pastoral landscapes, the human figure, and other objects of beauty that have been the subject of art for centuries.  Instead, I am drawn to rusted steel, peeling paint, and faded fabric—images in a state of decay that suggest layers of history and personal stories.  

 

Living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a rich source of inspiration for my work.  The history of the steel industry in Pittsburgh is evident throughout the city, which is why steel and iron are the primary materials in my work.  I appropriate the ironwork designs that I see everyday, and I allow my pieces to rust, hoping to give them the aged quality that is so attractive to me.  Steel bridges, industry, and the architectural details of buildings are endlessly fascinating to me.  From the beautiful, crumbling buildings on the Northside that surround my studio, to the hundreds of iron bridges I cross while exploring, the sources of inspiration are endless.

 

I’m not interested in merely recreating these things—that would be easier with a camera.  I’m trying to capture the essence of the beauty of Pittsburgh, make it tangible, and share it through jewelry.