Artist Statement
I grew up having a great love for American Indian peoples. When I was young, my father often took me to desert places where I could feel the rich simplicity of Indian culture. He taught me of their reverence for the land and about their lifeways that embodied that reverence.
My first works were clay murals and miniatures, mostly of American Indian architecture, but discovering gourds added new dimensions to my work. I realized that many indigenous cultures, not only American Indians, fashioned gourds into a myriad of containers, cooking pots, utensils, baskets, and bowls. The gourd is one of nature’s finest examples of both beauty and functionality in one. I have chosen the gourd as my primary medium because to me it symbolizes the gratitude, reverence, simplicity, and enduring spirit of native peoples everywhere.
In my work, I use every part of the gourd—the shell, the inner fiber, and the seeds. Each piece is an earth-friendly, handcrafted original. I hope that in some small way my art will honor the way that many native cultures took care of all their relations and all their surroundings. Nothing wasted—everything returned.
My first works were clay murals and miniatures, mostly of American Indian architecture, but discovering gourds added new dimensions to my work. I realized that many indigenous cultures, not only American Indians, fashioned gourds into a myriad of containers, cooking pots, utensils, baskets, and bowls. The gourd is one of nature’s finest examples of both beauty and functionality in one. I have chosen the gourd as my primary medium because to me it symbolizes the gratitude, reverence, simplicity, and enduring spirit of native peoples everywhere.
In my work, I use every part of the gourd—the shell, the inner fiber, and the seeds. Each piece is an earth-friendly, handcrafted original. I hope that in some small way my art will honor the way that many native cultures took care of all their relations and all their surroundings. Nothing wasted—everything returned.
Custom Gourd Art orders available. If you see something you like,
contact me and I'll create something similar.
contact me and I'll create something similar.