I went to a Polish catholic school and bumped into statues of saints at every corner. I went to college during the war in Viet Nam. Slogans and banners became part of my vocabulary. I often scratch and paint words, whole stories, or admonitions on the surface of my figures. I hope to represent people who suffer and carry on in dignity in a more permanent way than fleeting news stories.

I build the pieces from a heavy sculpture clay with coils, from the bottom up. I color the clay with engobes, oxides and muted glaze colorants, I carve, scratch, write, rub out, rewrite, and layer the surface texture. I fire the pieces in an electric kiln to 2300 degrees.

I hope to draw viewers in with idealized beauty and familiar iconography and hold interest with contemporary statements.”