My interest in the arts started while I was employed at WDSU-TV in New Orleans in 1989. Armed with a communications degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia, I was hired to be an associate director at the station. Part of the job function was to create the graphics used on-air. Having no graphic design education, I started taking drawing, design, and painting classes at various institutions in New Orleans to bolster my communications skills with artistic/design skills.
Wanting to break out of the box, so to speak, my wife arranged for a private glassblowing lesson as a Christmas gift in 1992. With glass, you either love or you don’t. I loved it. While working at the TV station, I continued to take classes in glassblowing. Along the way, I started working with clay while the hot shop closed for the summer.
Developing my skill sets over several years in both media, in 1995 I was commissioned by Art Against Aids to create the patron gifts and a signature piece that was auctioned off to raise money for the organization. This is when my desire to become and artist started and I worked to change my career. In 1997, I participated in a two person show at DOCS Gallery in New Orleans
I was juried in the ACC – Southeast Regional Spotlight Shows in 1995 and ’97 for my glass work and received several Alpha Awards from the local chapter of the Fashion Group International in 1995, ’96, and‘97.
Between 1995 and 1998, I participated in group shows at Earth and Fire Studio and Gallery in New Orleans.
While still employed at the TV station, I began teaching introduction to glassblowing at the New Orleans Glassworks and Printmaking Studio and participating in group shows at the Glassworks Gallery. This was in 1998.
In 1999, I left my position at the TV station to concentrate on an art career. I was employed fulltime at Glassworks and became the Director of the Young Adult Summer Workshops. Holding that position until 2003 and continuing as a glassblowing instructor until 2005.
After reading an article in Metalsmith Magazine about Precious Metal Clay and having been working in clay, my curiosity was peeked. I became a certified instructor by the PMC Guild and was the first certified instructor in Louisiana.
Because of this, New Orleans potter Mark Derby asked me collaborate with him for the Mayor’s Arts Award in 2001. I produced the pure silver medallions that adorn his vessels. With the un-known possibilities of PMC, and its similarity to clay, I experimented with the media and was published in the PMC Quarterly magazine as well as, having works selected for juried shows focused on PMC.
My innovative combination of pure silver and clay was highlighted on an episode of “Crafter Coast to Coast” for HGTV in 2003. Also in 2003, I was one of there local artists commissioned to design a new Key to the City of New Orleans by the Mayor’s Office.
I attended glassblowing workshops in Venetian Glassblowing with instructor Bill Gudenrath at the Studio in Corning, New York in 2002 and ’03.
2005, Katrina.
October 2005, I attended a glassblowing workshop with instructor Scott Chaseling at Urban Glass in Brooklyn, New York, to learn the process of the flat glass pick-up.
While evacuated in St. Louis, Missouri, I worked at Krueger Pottery and 3rd Degree Glass Factory.
In 2007, I became a full-time self employed artist after returning to New Orleans. I became a member of the Dutch Alley Artist Co-op and developed wholesale clients around the country to carry my artwork including The De Young Museum in San Francisco and Femail Creations.
Between 2005 and 2010, I have been commissioned by The Historic New Orleans Collection, Save Our Cemeteries and the Louisiana Garden Club Federation to design and create silver jewelry for their organizations. A piece designed for the Historic New Orleans Collection was given to First Lady Laura Bush on her visit to the Collections first show after Hurricane Katrina, “Common Routs, St. Domingue – Louisian.”
I was asked to join the board of directors of the New Orleans Creative Glass Institute in 2009. In 2010, I was juried into the Contemporary Craft section of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the One of a Kind Show and Sale in Chicago.
