JEWELRY STATEMENT
My inspiration stems from over 10 years in the food and wine industry combined with my artistic expression in fashioning wearable art. These fashionable designs are a whimsical combination of gashapon, Japanese toys, which are quality products, constructed from high-grade PVC plastic, or dollhouse miniatures constructed from polymer clay. Gashapon are mounted and featured against substantial settings of elegant 14k gold and sterling silver. Each creation is an eye-catching conversation piece of playful sophistication that captures the attention of all who see them.
With today’s interest in cooking and food, I provide a lighthearted and playful way for the wearer to express epicurean desires in an unexpected and imaginative way. My passion is to share my love of food and art through the creation of fashionably fun jewelry.
EXHIBITIONS
2011
* Tasty: Artists Playing With Food – Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz, California
* Good Enough to Eat – Facèré Gallery, Seattle, Washington
2010
* Delicious: Work Inspired by Food & Drink – STUDIO: Gallery; San Francisco, California
* Six By Six Project – Charmingwall Gallery, New York, NY
* Crafthaus Online Exhibit: Kinetic Toys and Mechanical Objects
* The Milkweed Project
2009
* Paper or Plastic? – Luke and Eloy Gallery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brigitte Martin, Curator
* Urban Renaissance – Berkeley, California; Metal Arts Guild group exhibition
* ArtUndressed – San Francisco, California. Erotic Signature, Curators
* Lines Into Shapes – Art Center of Estes Park, Estes Park, Colorado Jeff Legg, Juror
* Schwa – Emerge Gallery & Art Center, Greenville, NC, Kat and Matt Myers, Jurors. Honorable Mention
* Reclaim, Reuse, Renew – Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
* CONTROL – South Bay Area and Peninsula Women’s Caucus for Art, San Francisco, California. Guerilla Girls West, Jurors.
* re: materialization – Deborah Martin Gallery, Los Angeles, California
* National Juried Art Exhibit – ACCI Gallery, Berkeley, California. Lisah Horner, Juror
* National Art Encounter – Naples, Florida. Dahlia Morgan, Juror – Juror’s Choice Award
* Seven Deadly Sins – Cafe Montmartre, Madison, Wisconsin
* National Truffle Art Fest – Asheville, North Carolina
* Wearable Art Awards – Port Moody Arts Center; Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada
* Delicious: Work Inspired by Food & Drink – STUDIO: Gallery; San Francisco, California
* Valentine’s Day Celebration of Chocolate and Champagne – Sculpture to Wear; Los Angeles, California
2008
* Radical Jewelry Makeover – A project by Ethical Metalsmiths, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, California
2007
* Pop Art – Champagne Uncorked, Shaw Jewelry; Northeast Harbor, Maine. Curator: Sam Shaw
RETAIL OUTLETS
* Artful Home.com – Carolyn Tillie
* Artifacts Gallery – Indianapolis, Indiana
* Thousand Oaks Gallery – Berkeley, California
* Julie: Artisans – New York, New York
* MeWe Unique Gallery – Middleton, Wisconsin
* Crown & Crumpet – San Francisco, California
* Souvenir; Lafayette – California
* Dylan’s Candy Bar – New York, New York
* The Phoenix at Nepenthe – Big Sur, California
* Facèré Gallery – Seattle, Washington
* Freehand Gallery – Los Angeles, California
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
1997 – Scholarship to Haystack Mountain School of Crafts-Selected for outstanding level of accomplishment in Metalwork
PROFESSIONAL WRITINGS AND PUBLICATIONS
500 Plastic Jewelry Designs, Lark Books
San Francisco Examiner
Reno Gazette Journal
Gayot.com
Novus Vinum.com
Napa Register
Hugh Johnson’s World of Fine Wines
Gang of Pour.com
Wine Business Monthly
Wines and Vines
Enterprising Women Magazine
EDUCATION
Wine and Spirit Education Trust; Napa, California, 2002
Certified Master Chef, Epicurean School; Los Angeles, California, 1999
Master of Fine Arts, CSULB; Long Beach, California, 1998
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree: 3-D Media Metal, Textiles, and Wood, CSUN; Northridge, California, 1993
2010 FESTIVALS
• August 14 – San Rafael Food & Wine Festival, San Rafael, California
• July 3 & 4 – Fillmore Jazz Festival, San Francisco, California
• June 5 – Chalk & Chocolate Festival, Berkeley California
• May 8 – Paradise Chocolate Festival, Paradise, California
• April 10 to April 19 – Cherry Blossom Festival, San Francisco, California
• March 20 – Chocolate Salon, San Francisco, California
• February 5 to February 7 – Indulge, Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, Washington
2009 FESTIVALS
• November 28 to November 29 – Celebration of Craftswomen, San Francisco, California
• October 17 to October 19 – Art Affair, Beverly Hills, California
• September 19 to September 20 – Mill Valley Art Festival, Mill Valley, California
• August 14 to August 16 – American Craft Council, San Francisco, California
• August 8 to August 9 – San Francisco Gift Show, San Francisco, California.
• July 4 to July 5 – Fillmore Jazz Festival, San Francisco, California
• June 5 to June 7 – Contemporary Craft Market, Santa Monica, California
• May 31 to June 2 – American Craft Retailers Expo, Las Vegas, Nevada
• April 11 to April 19 – Cherry Blossom Festival, San Francisco, California
• March 14 to March 15 – Contemporary Craft Market, San Francisco, California