Light and Light

It’s that time of year again when high desert light becomes deliciously golden revealing definition of shadow play.
And when my own inner light becomes clearer, softer, more vibrant.
Is it a reflection of my environment?

I would say YES!

Thinking back fifteen years ago when I moved from a small coastal town to another small town in the desert - Abiquiu. I was ‘commuting’ from the desert to the sea every summer…I called it my annual migration home to what was familiar and soothing, like a healing balm. The desert is a vast ancient ocean. I kept trying to imagine the ocean as I looked across wide open spaces…the great expanse. Now I’m looking more at the sky, they call it “big sky country”. The clouds are amazing, especially during monsoon into fall. Thunderstorms, lighting, rain…so dramatic.

The expanse, light and the nothingness opened doors to a new way of working…playing with light and shadow from the outside unlike custom lighting fixtures where the light shown from the inside…this new work was all about the alter-ego…the one who wanted to be hidden by the human condition. The rawness of the expanse provided the perfect ground for bearing witness to my true self…and it’s an ongoing process.

The sculptures were all about the skeleton … how light and shadow play worked its way into my psyche. No place to go…nowhere to hide.

Making paper with kozo and gampi playing with water in the high desert is pretty awesome. I seem to be growing fonder of the preciousness of it all. My rain barrel is full and time for the last in-person 4-day workshop as the Rio Hondo valley begins to glow in autumn splendor.

I love making paper during summer months under the white canopy listening to rain and thunder in the distance. I don’t want to stop, so this morning after a walk down a country road with Etti, I decided to create an indoor space for a wet papermaking. Now I won’t have to break the creative cycle of working with paper, fiber and texture, form and light. Transforming the store room into papering annex/2 will be a good fall project along with learning how to make sourdough bread. It’s fun jumping on a “trend wagon”. Not something I do often, but I know once I’ve learned the basics I’ll figure out how to imbue bread from my oven with my sensibilities. Kind'a like making art…

Creative process is being alive.

My studio is open by appointment, so if you’re in the area, please send a message.
I’d love to see you!

I’ve posted a winter/spring workshop schedule on my site…take a peek.

And, I’m excited about sharing my fiber art techniques at other locations next year. Click on the links below for details about each workshop and to register.
Aya Fiber Studio, January 21-23, Visual Haiku with Flax Fiber Collage
Bellissima Art Escapes, June 11-14, The Art of Crafting Fiber Sculpture

Why do I love teaching? Because I have the opportunity to help people make friends with their inner-critic and have fun. And I get to travel and meet wonderfully creative people where we can be in community for a short time experiencing the intersection of life and art.

I ALMOST FOGOT TO MENTION!

My sculpture, Memories,
is on display at the
UnCommon Threads Exhibition
Courthouse Galleries
Stuart, Florida
September 9 - November 1, 2025

Martin County Courthouse Cultural Center
80 Southeast Ocean Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34994