The focus of my work

is process oriented.  Several years ago, I

was significantly changed by the process of finding a

black  ash  tree, harvesting  it  from  the swamp, removing  its 

bark,  pounding  its growth rings, removing  and  splitting  the splints,

sizing the splints, and  weaving  a basket with those very splints.  Revealed

 by  the  arduous  pounding  of   the  tree  and  tedious  splitting  of  the  splints,

is a lush, satiny surface  with  remarkable,  inherent surface  variations.   This  fiber

  is  extremely  durable  and   versatile  and   has  an  unassuming  quality  of  strength.  

     continually explore the qualities of black ash.  Weaving the black ash keeps me centered.     

  Because  of  its satiny  surface ,  I  must stay centered.   When  my  mind  drifts,  the ash  

   can  easily  twist, and I  am  pulled to  the present by the necessity to unweave and weave   

     again.  In  this  way, black ash becomes teacher, and my lesson  is  to listen to what the    

  energy  of  the  creative  process is saying.  "Surrender  beyond  the  mundane.  Accept

    the  development  of the  piece  in  the moment."  Pushing my capacity  for  tolerating   

  the  discomfort  of not  knowing  the outcome and staying   put  while  surrendering

     to  the  void  is necessary  for authentic work to come forth.  A  willingness  to    

     to learn  the  pace  of the piece is  unrelenting.  The mystery  unfolding  is    

    simultaneously,   unnerving  and  thrilling.  As I maintain this student

relationship to the piece, a true communion occurs, and  it