I was a teacher for six years and retired four years ago from John Deere after 26 years as an engineering analyst. In the late 1970’s I studied photography at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo. I worked with black and white film, concentrating on special affects, winning several awards in shows in the Cedar Falls, IA area. I now do digital color photography.
I studied pottery at University of Northern Iowa, during summers while I was teaching. I worked with raku potters Nina Ward and Doug Reynolds. While working at John Deere, I taught adult evening pottery classes at the Waterloo Art Museum for 8 years. In 1997 my angel sculpture was selected by the Dayton/Marshall Fields Stores for their one of a kind hand built Christmas item, resulting in a contract for 250 angels. My pottery was displayed in several Waterloo area galleries.
Retirement has provided the opportunity to explore my creative side, adding painting, fiber art and jewelry to my list of activities. One of my fiber pieces was accepted in the faculty art show at The Figge Art Museum. I also painted the frog that “lived” in front of the East Moline Post Office. I teach fiber arts classes for The Figge and other groups in the QC Area.
As a child I dreamed of being an archaeologist. I was excited about digging up the past. My pretend world was that of a seven year old Indiana Jones (farm girl) looking for Indian arrowheads. A career in archeology didn't happen for me, but I remain interested in ancient history and the future. These "Ancestral Chiefs" are the result.