Vanity, humility, religion, status and superstition...are all reasons embellishment of the body has lasted for over forty thousand years. Ethnic groups create together, these rituals are part of a long and continuous tradition passed on from generation to generation. Hunters, women, elders, and royalty all wear jewelry to communicate with their environment.

Before the twentieth century and Modernism, ethnic jewelry had the largest contrast of materials, involving color, form, and even sound. It had no bounds. Bones and teeth (both animal and human), shells, flowers, fruit, coins, and bells were used. Ethnic civilizations matched Europeans in the mastery of techniques and the use of precious metals, but chose to use different surface texture. Jewelry is still inspired from early designs.

My jewelry is a language. It is a visual dialogue which requires intimacy from many perspectives. The conversation develops each time the piece is aired.

I speak by choosing materials that convey my thoughts, emotions, observations, and concerns. The use of found objects gives life to something discarded and serves as a reminder of impermanence. Marks hammered into silver balance the smoothness of a pearl. Wires twisted in a confusing way become order when repeated. These patterns reflect the struggle to attain a calm in the chaos.

I create jewelry to communicate with my environment, as a ritual of life.