Artist statement

     I have always been fascinated by old rusty things, i.e. cars, tractors, disc plows etc, and how they interact with the surrounding landscape.  The context and state in which these objects lie are commonplace. However, when I use rusted old tools and found objects in my sculpture, they become dynamic and alive. Familiar objects used in everyday life are transformed.   

     I seek to simplify forms in my sculpture while creating a balance in space.  Not only am I concerned about the space it occupies, but especially the unoccupied space.  Achieving this balance gives my sculpture energy.

     The use of steel is paramount for my working method. Not only do I admire steel for its permanence, but it also allows me to work on several sculptures at a time. The structural characteristics of steel are used to physically connect and “float” sculptural elements. The adding and subtracting of various components with a touch of a torch or welder is very satisfying and fulfills a spiritual necessity.

     Completing a sculpture is not of utmost importance. The “struggle” or “process” is the most important part of creating my art. It is an adventure that has it’s own rewards. Welding, cutting, bending and grinding are a form of meditation that transport me to a different place.

    “You must have a room, or a certain hour or so a day, where you don’t know what was in the newspapers that morning ... a place where you can simplify experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be.”

                                                                                                                 - Joseph Campbell