SCULPTURES, PAINTINGS , DRAWINGS, PRINTS & QUILTS
My figurative artwork celebrates the experience of living in a body. Whether carved wood or stone, richly colored drawings or paintings, rhythmically incised prints or appliquéd quilts, my work is all about embodiment. My figures are “felt” self-portraits expressing a wide range of emotions, attitudes and gestures.
I believe embodiment is crucial to our times. The over-developed world’s decay, disrespect and disembodiment continue to lead us to a denial of the body, a destructive arrogance and a dishonoring of the Earth. Embodiment, on the other hand, is the source of understanding what it means to be alive and conscious on the Earth, living with purpose, grace, peace and respect for the sacredness of all life. I intend my strong sensual figures to inspire us to listen to and rejoice in the wisdom of our bodies.
My exploration of the figure and questions about embodiment began at an early age. I grew up surrounded by African woodcarvings and the paintings of my uncle, Bay Area figurative painter David Park. My mother’s association with African embassy women brought a colorful stream of robust and voluptuous African women to our house, powerful and comfortable in their bodies. In stark contrast to this bodily ease, my family struggled to cope with the difficulties brought on by the physical handicaps of my father and sister. Ironically, I am developing vision problems in one eye, so it seems that physical challenges are a theme for my family.
My dedication to working with my hands was strongly supported in my family. I learned to love the warmth of wood from living in a house full of hand-made furniture crafted by my father and grandfather. My mother sewed with African fabric, knitted sweaters and made quilts. Early on, I was encouraged to work with pottery and ceramic sculpture.
A child of the sixties frustrated with the world of academics and the establishment's hypocrisy, I dropped out from college in 1971. Seeking meaning and practical experience as an artist, I soon hooked up with another uncle, sculptor Gordon Newell. My long relationship with Newell and his Sculpture Center became my self-directed art education. Newell introduced me to the puzzle of carving. Carving is fundamentally different than modeling because carving is a subtractive process: the options to add back on or to change your mind are not available. Gordon mentored me by showing me how to sharpen my chisels, go with the grain, and carve away everything not essential to the form. He helped me see that the metaphor of carving can be a compass for living: life itself carves and burnishes us, cutting away unnecessary attachments and slowly honing our souls.
I am a practitioner and teacher of the non-violent martial art Aikido. I hold a second-degree black belt and have taught children, students and adults off and on since 1971. I am also a bodywork therapist. Aikido, bodywork and art complement and reinforce each other as powerful ways to study embodiment and creativity.
In 1990, I took all aspects of my work into a federal women’s prison where for four years I directed an innovative and volunteer-run holistic health program for inmates and staff. By 2000 I completed the task of writing about my prison work and self-published a small edition of “Soaring Over the Wall: A Volunteer’s Collection of Prison Freedom Stories.” It is my hope to rewrite this book and publish it.
To that end, I returned to college and just graduated with a BA in English/Creative Writing and a Theatre minor. Graduate school is a definite possibility.
My art career spans almost forty years. Hard to believe. My work is in private collections nationwide. With my husband Henry Woolbert --a painter and print-maker -- I live in the tiny village of Jaroso in the San Luis Valley of south central Colorado. Studio visits are welcomed. Please email or call 719 672-3874to set up a time.
