Forging Joy
Every hour, Every Day, Every Year
Funky Little Miracles in All Colors, Shapes & Sizes

November 20, 2026 - February 6, 2027
Artist Reception & Talk November 20, 2026 5-7:30
Gilded Pear Gallery, Cedar Rapids Iowa

Curation in Progress

Artist Statement

Have you ever stopped to wonder how you came to love something? A particular color that lifts your spirits, like hot pink or chartreus. A room that feels like home. I love anywhere with a cozy blanket, a big window and a smattering of throw pillows. Maybe its a person who makes you laugh. My youngest daughter and husband have the most contagious laughs that always make me smile. Or maybe its a favorite place that calls you back time and again, like the mountains or the beach. These loves rarely appear out of nowhere. They are gathered over a lifetime, shaped by memories, experiences, and the little moments that quietly become extraordinary.

Reflections on memory, discovery, and the things I have come to love find their way directly into my art. I have come to understand that the way we see the world is shaped by everything we carry with us: the colors that first caught our attention, the places that stirred our imaginations, the sounds that became part of our inner rhythm, and the experiences that taught us to recognize beauty in unexpected places. Over time, these influences become part of our visual language, often surfacing in ways we cannot fully explain. For me, collecting odd items, painting and collaging them into playful wall art and sculptures, are ways of giving that invisible language a physical form.

The works in Forging Joy: Every Day, Every Hour, Every Year bring together years of exploration of God’s great earth. Each piece reflects my ongoing fascination with how seemingly unrelated things can find their way into conversation with one another. A spontaneous mark, an unexpected combination of colors, a curious shape, or the movement of a suspended form can become the beginning of something entirely new. I follow these discoveries with a balance of intention and intuition, allowing each decision to open the door to another possibility. In this way, my artwork mirrors the way joy takes shape in life. I may begin with an idea, but I leave room for surprise—for the happy accidents, unusual connections, and moments of recognition that make the creative process feel alive. What begins as a personal exploration becomes an open invitation for others to discover their own connections, memories, and meanings in my work.