Ice installations in Svalbard, September/October 2023
The magnetic pull of the polar region brought me back to the frosty tundra, this time to the high Arctic of Svalbard, an archipelago of islands at 78° north. Six weeks exploring natural color hidden in the glacial valleys and frigid fjords during a residency at the Spitsbergen Artists Center was yet another dream come true.
Dyeing and printing fiber with foraged seaweed, mushroom, iron-rich mud and the rusty metal scattered from deserted coal mines captured the subtle natural shades of Longyearbyen. However, as a creative exchange, I brought the vivid colors of flowers and roots found elsewhere in the world to place as ephemeral gifts of frozen installations of ice.
Ice infused with hibiscus, turmeric root, matcha, blue butterfly pea and red cabbage installed in Coal Harbor, Longyearbyen, October 2023.
Ice infused with hibiscus, turmeric root, chamomile, matcha, blue butterfly pea and red cabbage installed in Pyramiden, Spitsbergen, October 2023.
Ice infused with hibiscus, turmeric root, matcha, chamomile, blue butterfly pea and red cabbage installed at Adventfjorden, Longyearbyen, October 2023.
Ice infused with hibiscus, turmeric root, matcha, chamomile, blue butterfly pea and red cabbage installed on Longyear River, Nybyen, October 2023.
Ice infused with hibiscus, turmeric root, matcha and chamomile installed in Adventfjorden, Longyearbyen, October 2023.
Ice infused with seaweed installed near Gruve 7, Adventdalen, October 2023.
Ice infused with hibiscus, turmeric root, and chamomile installed in Adventfjorden, Longyearbyen, October 2023.
Ice infused with blue butterfly pea, mushroom and seaweed installed on the Polar Girl near Nordenskiöld Glacier, Spitsbergen, October 2023.
Ice infused with hibiscus installed near Bear Valley, Spitsbergen, October 2023.
Ice infused with turmeric root, matcha, chamomile, blue butterfly pea and red cabbage installed at Gruve 7, Adventdalen, October 2023.
Ice infused with turmeric root, matcha and red cabbage installed on a scree field near Bear Valley, Spitsbergen, October 2023.
Ice infused with hibiscus, turmeric root, chamomile, matcha, blue butterfly pea and red cabbage installed on a taubanebukk near Gruve 6, Longyearbyen, October 2023.
Ice infused with hibiscus and turmeric root installed in Adventfjorden, Longyearbyen, October 2023.
Ice infused with hibiscus, turmeric root, matcha and chamomile installed in Adventfjorden, Longyearbyen, October 2023.
Ice infused with hibiscus, matcha, blue butterfly pea and red cabbage installed in Longyearbalen, Nybyen, October 2023.
Installation in Aruba Dec 2020
Aruba became an unexpected rendez-vous point to celebrate a 10-year Thanksgiving tradition with my love. Separated by closed borders much of 2020, the gift of international travel to this arid volcanic outcrop in the Caribbean was a surprise in a wild year, and I am forever grateful for such wanderlust luck.
Challenging myself to forage and extract colors exclusively from the flora of Aruba created a richly warm palette that mimicked the climatic heat that lingered in the air both day and night. Before freezing the natural dyes for my installation work, I steeped textiles to capture the colors of my surroundings to build canvas pieces in my PNW studio in 2021.
I find simple beauty in the full circle of borrowing and returning the botanical bounty that Aruba’s land lovingly shared with me.
Ice infused with foraged canna, aloe vera, bougainvillea and purple heart installed in cacti forest in Aruba, December 2020.
Ice stack infused with foraged canna, aloe vera, bougainvillea and purple heart installed on Arashi beach in Aruba, December 2020.
Ice orbs infused with foraged flower petals of canna, bougainvillea and trumpet vine installed in palm tree in Aruba, December 2020.
Ice stack infused with foraged aloe vera and bougainvillea installed at Arashi beach in Aruba, December 2020.
Ice stack infused with foraged canna, aloe vera, bougainvillea and purple heart installed at California Lighthouse in Aruba, December 2020.
Ice orbs infused with foraged canna, aloe vera, bougainvillea and purple heart installed on lava rock in Aruba, December 2020.
Ice infused with foraged bougainvillea installed in rock field in Aruba, December 2020.
Ice infused with foraged canna, aloe vera, bougainvillea and purple heart installed on Arashi beach in Aruba, December 2020.
Ice infused with foraged canna installed on rock in Aruba, December 2020.
Ice infused with foraged canna installed on aloe vera in Aruba, December 2020.
Installation on the Central Coast, California Aug/Sept 2020
Returning to the Central Coast of California in the late summer of 2020 was a sweet way to celebrate a uniquely beautiful landscape that has inspired me for decades. Scattering installations across various coastal locations from Cayucos to Cambria, I slowed down to quietly explore the windswept beaches and headlands that are wildly shaped by the Pacific.
Working predominantly with ice and a limited organic dye palette, the stark color contrast of cool blues and the warmth of parched earth created the visual tension I often seek in my photography. With other material favorites like abaca, paper pulp and bioplastic, I was treated to wonderful moments of delight in a land where I’m forever connected.
Ice installation infused with turmeric, hibiscus and blue butterfly pea on Moonstone Beach, Cambria, California, September 2020.
Bioplastic infused with avocado and brasilwood installed on Dog Beach, Cayucos, California, August 2020.
Blue butterfly pea infused ice installation on barnacle rock, Cayucos, California, September 2020.
Matcha and blue butterfly pea infused ice installation on Moonstone Beach, Cambria, California, September 2020.
Blue butterfly pea infused ice installation, Cayucos, California, September 2020.
Ice installation infused with turmeric, hibiscus and blue butterfly pea on Moonstone Beach, Cambria, California, September 2020.
Blue butterfly pea infused ice installation, Cayucos, California, September 2020.
Earth pigmented paper pulp installation at Harmony Headlands, Harmony, California, August 2020.
Ice installation infused with turmeric, hibiscus and blue butterfly pea on Moonstone Beach, Cambria, California, September 2020.
Abaca installation on Dog Beach, Cayucos, California, August 2020.
Blue butterfly pea infused ice installation on mussel encrusted rock, Cayucos, California, September 2020.
Blue butterfly pea and spirulina infused ice installation on Moonstone Beach, Cambria, California, September 2020.
Ice installation infused with turmeric, hibiscus and blue butterfly pea on Moonstone Beach, Cambria, California, September 2020.
Ice installation in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington May 2020
Spring of 2020 halted all travel but gave an incredible gift of stillness that opened up the wide world of installation right outside my front door. For 10 days, Tambark Park provided a lush landscape of inspiration to place new ice sculpture clusters as small offerings of gratitude for the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
As part of #The100DayProject where I focused exclusively on creating art with natural colors, the Tambark Ten celebrated ice infused with organic dyes brewed and frozen in my kitchen studio. I continue to be absolutely intrigued and humbly mesmerized by the rich diversity of nature’s palette.
Ice installation infused with organic dye of turmeric, red beet, avocado and red cabbage in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington, May 2020.
Ice installation infused with organic dye of turmeric, red beet, avocado, blue butterfly pea and red cabbage in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington, May 2020.
Ice installation infused with organic dye of turmeric, avocado and red cabbage in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington, May 2020.
Ice installation infused with organic dye of turmeric, avocado, red beet, blue butterfly pea and red cabbage in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington, May 2020.
Ice installation infused with organic dye of turmeric, red beet, avocado, blue butterfly pea and red cabbage in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington, May 2020.
Ice installation infused with organic dye of turmeric, red beet, avocado and red cabbage in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington, May 2020.
Ice installation infused with organic dye of turmeric, red beet, avocado and red cabbage in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington, May 2020.
Ice installation infused with organic dye of turmeric and blue butterfly pea in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington, May 2020.
Ice installation infused with organic dye of turmeric, red beet, avocado and red cabbage in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington, May 2020.
Ice installation with embedded flower petals in honor of Maia on Mother’s Day in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington, May 2020.
Ice installation infused with organic dye of turmeric, red beet, avocado and red cabbage in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington, May 2020.
Ice installation infused with organic dye of turmeric, red beet, avocado and blue butterfly pea in Tambark Park, Bothell, Washington, May 2020.
Mixed media installation in Oaxaca, Mexico, February/March 2020
An invitation to attend an artist residency in Oaxaca, Mexico for three weeks was an incredible opportunity to more deeply explore my fascination with extracting colors from earth. Working alongside a dye master, I studied the amazing spectrum of cochineal and indigo, as well as other native botanicals of the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca.
With a mixture of newly created textile materials, as well as some beloved sculptural forms I use in my installation practice, I found new inspirational environments to celebrate my love of the land in the high desert of southern Mexico.
Torn textile strips hand-dyed with botanicals, entwined on a found wooden pegboard and installed on an exterior shed wall in San Pablo Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico, March 2020.
Hand-dyed wool from organic matter including cochineal, pericon, muicle, nutshell, huizache and indigo, installed on a barbed wire fence in San Pablo Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico, March 2020.
Paper pulp blocks painted with earth pigments and placed as a floating installation in Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca State, Mexico, March 2020.
Bioplastic swirls infused with organic dyes and installed on a bamboo fence in San Pablo Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico, March 2020.
Paper pulp sticks painted with earth pigments and installed in Oaxaca City, Mexico, February 2020.
Glitter infused resin cubes embedded in the bamboo wall of my studio in San Pablo Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico, March 2020.
Cotton and silk thread orbs installed in Oaxaca City, Mexico, February 2020.
Paper pulp block stack painted with earth pigments and installed in a nopales bed for cochineal harvest, Santa Maria Coyotepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, March 2020.
Abaca swirls installation at La Mesita, San Pablo Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico, March 2020.
Bioplastic installation in Cannon Beach, Oregon, November 2019
The Pacific coastline has been a wildly inspirational destination for my art practice for years. The area of Cannon Beach was a perfect environment to place a new organic material I’ve recently discovered: bioplastic. Always in search of alternate ways to celebrate the ephemeral in my work, the translucent forms brewed from simple organic materials in my studio are an exciting addition to explore.
As I continue to stretch the depths of bioplastic, my hope is to have found a substrate with the stability to linger within the gallery setting while still quietly dissolving back into the earth when placed for exterior installation. A vision somewhere between ice and glass.
Bioplastic wedges infused with dye from sunflower, avocado and blue butterfly pea and installed on Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Bioplastic wafers infused with dye from sunflower, blue butterfly pea and red cabbage, hand installed in Ecola State Park, Oregon.
Bioplastic urns infused with dye from sunflower and avocado and installed on Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Bioplastic squares infused with dye from sunflower and avocado and installed on Indian Beach in Ecola State Park, Oregon.
Bioplastic squares infused with dye from sunflower and avocado and installed on Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Bioplastic wafers infused with dye from sunflower, hibiscus and blue butterfly pea, hand installed in Ecola State Park, Oregon.
Bioplastic swirls infused with dye from sunflower and avocado and installed on Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Bioplastic urns infused with dye from sunflower and avocado and installed on rocks at Indian Beach in Ecola State Park, Oregon.
Mixed media installation in Idaho, August 2019
When my mother passed away in May, it was a beautifully natural decision to lay her to rest among the aspen in the mountains of central Idaho, a place where our family has been deeply rooted for more than a century. Returning in August to quietly celebrate her life and love of this amazing land was more healing and inspirational than I could have ever imagined.
A handful of small works installed in some of my favorite places, left to silently play, or melt away, in their breathtaking environments, all in memory of my mom, Jan Willms - I love you.
Salmon River stone painted with earth pigment and installed near Boulder Creek, Idaho.
Avocado and lichen infused ice installation, Ketchum, Idaho.
Hand dipped paper in avocado and lichen dye installed on a cairn near Boulder Creek, Idaho.
Fiber orbs installed in decaying pine, Redfish Lake, Idaho.
Hand dipped paper in avocado and lichen dye installed in an aspen grove near Boulder Creek, Idaho.
Paper pulp stack painted with earth pigment and installed near Little Redfish Lake, Idaho.
Avocado and lichen infused ice installation along the Big Wood River, Ketchum, Idaho.
Abaca swirl installation over Camas Prairie, Fairfield, Idaho.
Avocado and lichen infused ice installation along the Big Wood River, Ketchum, Idaho.
Mixed media installation in Peru, June/July 2019
As a mother with an insatiable need to wander, I could not have been more excited when my daughter, Zsofi, asked for a trip to Peru for her high school graduation present. New to my tally of 65+ countries, I had no idea this incredible country would top the list with it’s sheer natural beauty.
Carrying only a backpack, I had to be thrifty with my installation materials, so just a handful of pieces ready to travel from my studio inventory tagged along. I realized that this exploration would be one of extraction as much as installation, and I would let the land decide how it would welcome our interaction.
Having only scratched its colorful mineral surface, there is no doubt I will return to Peru one day for the visual feast it so lovingly shared.
Paper pulp handheld installation at 17K feet, Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain), Peru.
Wheat paste paper stack installation on Playa Supay, Paracas, Peru.
Paper pulp installation at Machu Picchu, Peru.
Paper pulp installation on Playa Supay, Paracas, Peru.
Abaca swirl installation on the Urubamba River, Inca Trail, Peru.
Paper pulp installation on sand dunes, Ica, Peru.
Mung bean dome installation on the Urubamba River, Aguas Calientes, Peru.
Mixed media installation in Maui, Hawaii, USA, April 2019
When you are invited to Maui for work, you happily accept. And if you are an installation artist, your creativity starts churning. With my son, Mason, and boyfriend, Chris in tow, we discovered some new territory in the west of the island with beautiful sites to place six installations over six days.
The explorer in me loves a good treasure hunt, so I invited my virtual community to join me on this trip. With a map in hand, the players had a chance to win one of my installation prints if they could answer six simple questions. Having engagement across the Pacific with the people who support my practice was a magical experience that added sparkle to the island adventure!
Mung bean dome installation in sand at Kaanapali Beach, West Maui.
Aerial view of wheat paste paper scrolls installed in a rocky beach at Honokohau Bay, West Maui.
Paper pulp bricks painted with earth minerals embedded in driftwood at Ukumehame Beach, West Maui.
Wheat paste paper stacked installation at Ukumehame Beach, West Maui.
Paper pulp sticks installed in lava rock on Haleakalā, Maui.
Threaded orbs installed at the base of a banyan tree at night, Lahaina, Maui.
Bonus installation of abaca swirls on Haleakalā, Maui.
Behind the scenes shot of artist Margaret Byrd installing abaca on Haleakalā, Maui. This was a bonus installation on the Maui Treasure Hunt.
Swizzle Stick, abaca installations at Fábrica La Aurora in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, March 2019
Invited for my first large scale installation at Galería Manuk in Mexico this year was a dream come true, a deep intention realized. Roaming the globe to install small sculptural pieces brings immense joy and a twinkle in my eye, but stretching my practice for expansion is a critical part of my growth as an artist.
So very grateful for the gallery sponsorship and support to create several exterior installations of abaca and one 15 foot hanging installation inside the gallery. A true milestone for this creative which has sparked my search for the next international location to share my artistic vision with the world.
Aerial view of Swizzle Stick installation in the cactus garden of Fábrica La Aurora. Photo by Pamela Minett
Knee deep in the front garden of Fábrica La Aurora, Margaret finalizes the abaca installation of Swizzle Stick. Photo by Pamela Minett
Free standing abaca swirl sculpture in the Swizzle Stick series, shown here at Galería Manuk. Available for sale in my shop. Photo by Pamela Minett
Close up of blue abaca swirl in Swizzle Stick in front garden of Fábrica La Aurora. Photo by Pamela Minett
Abaca swirl piece in the Swizzle Stick installation in a rock garden at Fábrica La Aurora. Photo by Pamela Minett
Gallery installation of floating Swizzle Stick in Galería Manuk. Photo by Pamela Minett
Resident gallery kitty helping install abaca swirls in the cactus garden of Fábrica La Aurora. Photo by Pamela Minett
Finishing touches on a small abaca installation in the Swizzle Stick series at Fábrica La Aurora. Photo by Pamela Meritt
Aerial view of abaca swirls installed in a rock garden in Fábrica La Aurora. Photo by Pamela Minett
Artist with huge smile in front of large scale floating abaca installation in Galería Manuk. Photo by Pamela Minett
Close up of gallery installation of floating Swizzle Stick in Galería Manuk. Photo by Pamela Minett
Abaca installation in front garden of Fábrica La Aurora. Photo by Pamela Minett
Abaca swirl installation in the cactus garden of Fábrica La Aurora. Photo by Pamela Minett
Gallery installation of floating Swizzle Stick in Galería Manuk. Photo by Pamela Minett
Ice installations in Þingeyri, Westfjords, Iceland, February 2019
Ten days in one of the most enchanting places on earth seemed like the perfect spot for inspiration on my first artist residency. Once again, Iceland sparkled in its wild beauty, but it was the village of Þingeyri that put a spell on me. The wind- swept industrial landscape tucked along the fjord provided a visually rich setting for over 20 ice installations.
One of my goals for the residency was to extract organic dye from the land and sea of Iceland. Seaweed, lichen, cabbage and kale created the most luscious color combinations and froze beautifully. Mother Earth at the Arctic is an absolute wizard and will certainly entice me back one day by her magic.
Ice infused with organic dye and installed at the beach in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed at Simbahöllin coffeehouse in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed at the church in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed at a warehouse in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed at the beach in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed at a farm in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed on a dock in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed at the Salt House in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed on the dock in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed in a snow plow blade in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed at an industrial park in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed on the boat launch in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed at an industrial park in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed in a tire stack in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed on a pallet in Þingeyri, Iceland
Ice infused with organic dye and installed on the beach in Þingeyri, Iceland
Mixed media installations at Haramara Retreat in Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico, December 2018
Hidden in the steep coastal canyons of Nayarit, the Haramara Retreat was my 50th birthday gift to self and the last installation journey of 2018. Living and creating art in the dense jungle of the Pacific dry forest was a truly spiritual experience that stretched my creativity in marvelously unanticipated ways.
Although the highlight of this journey was a one week painting workshop with Nicholas Wilton and other amazing creative adventurers, the installation artist in me found the unique site specific terrain to be a surprising challenge at every slippery turn. Tasked with leaving only purely organic material behind, the jungle quietly reminded me daily who was queen of the flora and fauna. Respect, Mother Earth.
Organically dyed mung bean installation on a Papelillo tree at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed dough installation in a bamboo grove at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed ice with embedded flower installation on the beach at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Paper pulp painted with earth minerals and installed at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed ice installation on beach driftwood at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed ice installation on a fallen palm frond on the beach at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed dough installation at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Butterfly pea infused ice installation on the beach at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed ice installation at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed ice embedded with flowers at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed dough installation in an elephant tree at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed ice installation on the beach at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed ice installation on the beach at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed ice with embedded flowers installed in a bamboo grove at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed mung bean installation on a tree at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Organically dyed dough installation at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico
Mixed media installations in the Lofoten archipelago and Stavanger, Norway, October 2018
Rugged stone mountains jetting up dramatically from the crystal clear crashing waves in the Arctic Circle is the sweetest combination of natural beauty in my travel log. A perfect place to celebrate my 50th birthday, Lofoten encapsulates it all in one string of islands poking out into the Norwegian Sea.
Having seen just a glimpse of this terrain in a calendar years ago, I knew it would be a place I needed to explore for installation. While the sweeping vistas were breathtaking, it was the striking variation of color and texture at my hands and feet that inspired my art work over 3 amazing weeks of exploration.
Blue butterfly pea and hibiscus infused ice installation near Valnesvatnet, Norway
Glitter infused adhesive installation on a rorbu fishing cabin in Nusfjord, Norway
Silk and cotton thread orb installation on a granite boulder near Henningsvær, Norway
Clear ice stack installation in Bodø, Norway
Glitter infused and clear resin cube installation on an anchor mooring in Hamnøy, Norway
Metallic spray painted paper stick installation in a forested park in Stavanger, Norway
Blue butterfly pea infused ice installation on Vikten Beach, Norway
Hibiscus and blue butterfly pea blend infused in ice and installed on stone in Sør Arnøy, Norway
Abaca swirls installed on Uttakleivveien Beach, Norway
Hibiscus infused ice installation on pier in Henningsvær, Norway
Glitter infused resin cube installation on a fishing rorbu wall in Sør Arnøy, Norway
Hibiscus infused ice installation on mossy step ruins in Sør Arnøy, Norway
Silk and cotton thread orbs installed in a rock wall in Stavanger, Norway
Embedded sea glass ice installation in Sør Arnøy, Norway
Hibiscus infused ice installation on Vikten Beach, Norway
Glitter infused resin cube installation in a giant Aspen in Stavanger, Norway
Infused blend of hibiscus and blue butterfly pea ice stack installed in Bodø, Norway
Mixed media installations in the Cascade Range, Oregon, USA, August 2018
The smell of Ponderosa pine is one of the sweetest in this big, beautiful world of ours. Standing in the shadow of Black Butte on the high plateau of the Cascade range, these towering evergreens with their glowing amber bark are my absolute favorite trees. It’s no wonder they demanded attention during a week-long installation adventure in Oregon this August.
Scattered among the redwoods, the volcanic remnants of lava, basalt, ash and tuff formations competed for my creative inspiration that fueled the work I chose to leave behind. I will certainly return, as I have since my childhood, to one of the most incredible sensory experiences in the Pacific Northwest.
Hibiscus infused ice installation on a downed Ponderosa pine in Black Butte Ranch, Oregon
Installation of wire in a shallow frog pond on Black Butte Ranch in Oregon
Glitter infused adhesive domes installed in a lava rock fissure at McKenzie Pass near Sisters, Oregon
Matcha infused ice installation at Smith Rock near Bend, Oregon
Organically dyed string orbs installed in a grove of Aspen on Black Butte Ranch in Oregon
Matcha infused ice installation in a Ponderosa pine on Black Butte Ranch in Oregon
Abaca swirls installed on a pond’s edge on Black Butte Ranch in Oregon
Installation of glitter infused resin cubes in a lone Lodgepole in the lava field at McKenzie Pass near Sisters, Oregon
Installation of spray painted paper sticks in lava rock at McKenzie Pass near Sisters, Oregon
Glitter infused adhesive domes installed in the bark of a Ponderosa pine on Black Butte Ranch in Oregon
Mixed media installations in Maui, Hawaii, USA, June 2018
I got volcanic fever bad. Caught it as a child wandering around lava fields in Idaho and Oregon, and never realized how much it has sparked my fascination with pebble and stone.
I began my love affair with Maui a decade ago, but spending 14 sun-blistered days exploring this island crater in search of installation sites sealed the deal with a fiery kiss. No matter where I roamed, the residue of molten rock beckoned for interaction, and I happily played in its flow. I’m beyond grateful to Madame Pele for creating such a vibrant landscape of inspiration - mahalo!
Silk and cotton thread orb installation in lava rock in Makena, Maui
Dough infused with organic dyes installed in a beachside grove in Wailea, Maui
Organically dyed string installation embedded in lava rock in Makena, Maui
Ice infused with blue pea installation on the black sand beach of Waianapanapa, Maui
Glitter infused adhesive dome installation on beachside lava rock in Wailea, Maui
Wood shaving orb installation inside a red Ti plant in Wailea, Maui
Dough infused with organic dyes installed on Hamoa Beach near Hana, Maui
Mica embedded in egg shell installed in the sand of Makena, Maui
Installation of ice embedded with plumeria flowers in a tidal pool in Wailea, Maui
Silk and cotton thread orbs installed near a Silversword plant at 10K feet on Haleakala Crater, Maui
Dough infused with organic dyes embedded in lava rock at La Perouse Bay, Maui
Melting blue pea infused ice embedded with blue jade vine and plumeria flowers in Wailea, Maui
Organically dyed string installed in a beachside grove in Wailea, Maui
Organically dyed dough installation in coral and lava bed in Wailea, Maui
Mixed media installations in Guanajuato, Mexico City, Guadalajara and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, January/February 2018
I love everything about Mexico. The people, the landscape and the culture all exude warmth in every sense of the word. It's a place that has been in my heart and soul for decades. Good fortune has taken me to so many corners of this vibrant country, but there is so much more to discover. As luck would have it, I had 15 amazing days there where I stumbled into new areas of wonder. Needless to say, I had plenty of sites to inspire some creative play along the way.
Resin cube installation poolside in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Dome installation in San Miguel de Allende made from adhesive and glitter
Ice embedded with trumpet vine flowers installed on a wood shelf in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Glitter infused adhesive domes installed in a bougainvillea bush in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Abaca installation in a garden tree in Guadalajara, Mexico
Resin installation on a cactus in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Tape cubes wrapped in paper with internal light installed on a stone wall in Coyoacan, Mexico
Glitter infused dome installation on a rooftop in Guanajuato, Mexico
Blue pea infused ice installed on a stone wall in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Glitter infused resin cubes installed in a stone sink in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Glitter infused adhesive domes installed on a stone railing in Coyoacan, Mexico
Ice with embedded bougainvillea flowers installed in water in a San Miguel de Allende pool, Mexico
Resin embedded with sea glass installed on a stone step with floor lighting in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Abaca fiber installed in a doorway vine in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Ice installation in Westfjords and Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland, November/December 2017
Falling in love with Iceland many years ago, it was the perfect destination to satisfy my travel itch while realizing my first dedicated site-specific installation trip. In fact, it was ice that inspired my first installation in Montana so many years ago. Wild winds, freezing temperatures and treacherous road conditions did not stop me from placing pieces in more than 12 locations across the western coastline - it actually ignited me. I'm more enchanted now than ever before. Thank you, Iceland, for your magic!
Ice Installation with blue pea infusion at the hot pots in Drangsnes, Westfjords, Iceland
Ice installation with embedded glass orbs near Kirkjufell on Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland
Ice installation with red berry and green pea in a lava field near Stykkishólmur on Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland
Ice installation infused with blue pea near Djúpalónssandur on Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland
Ice installation infused with blue pea, tumeric, matcha, red cabbage, smoked paprika and hibiscus in Súðavík, Westfjords, Iceland
Ice installation embedded with dried leaves at Dynjandi, Westfjords, Iceland
Ice installation embedded with red berry near the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
Ice installation embedded with sea glass, red berries and sea shells in Bolungarvík, Westfjords, Iceland
Ice installation embedded with gold leaf in Bolungarvík, Westfjords, Iceland
Ice installation infused with spirulina near Djúpalónssandur on Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland
Ice installation with hibiscus, red cabbage, blue pea, spirulina and tumeric infusion at the hot pots in Drangsnes, Westfjords, Iceland
Ice installation infused with blue pea and red cabbage near Ögur, Westfjords, Iceland
Ice installation embedded with gold leaf near Suðureyri, Westfjords, Iceland
Ice installation embedded with glass orbs in Bolungarvík, Westfjords, Iceland
Site specific mixed media installations across the globe, 2018
I travel...A LOT! Luckily, I absolutely adore it. My day job bounces me around, so when I jump on a plane, an installation is always in the mix! Here's a snippet of my latest creative adventures on the road.
Paper and tape Pop Cubes installed on Coronado Beach in Coronado, California, October 2019
Paper pulp stack painted with earth pigment and installed on Tamarack Beach in Carlsbad, California, October 2019
Avocado and lichen hand-dyed paper installed on Tamarack Beach in Carlsbad, California, October 2019
Paper pulp sticks installed in black sand of Tamarack Beach, Carlsbad, California, October 2019
Butterfly pea infused ice blocks installed on a manhole cover in Bryant Park in Manhattan, New York, January 2019
Glitter infused resin cubes installed on a bronze lamppost in Bryant Park in Manhattan, New York, January 2019
Paper pulp bricks installed at the New York Public Library in Manhattan, New York, January 2019
Abaca swirls installed in a grate at The Kind Fest in Willis Tucker Park, Snohomish, Washington, August 2018
Glitter infused resin cubes installed on a fungus in Seabrook, Washington, July 2018
Installation of hibiscus infused ice at low tide in Seabrook, Washington, July 2018
Glitter infused resin cube stack on the Yakima ferry en route to Bremerton, Washington, July 2018
Artist collaboration of acrylic paper stick installation on Pacific Beach in Seabrook, Washington, July 2018. Huge thanks to Zsofi, Brianna and Maggie!
Installation of spray painted paper sticks in low tide at Hood Canal near Union, Washington, July 2018
Ranunculus fields dome installation of glitter infused adhesive in Carlsbad, California
Abaca installation on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas
Resin cube installation in an abandoned pier post in Anacortes, Washington
Paper sticks painted with acrylic installed along the Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas
Paper stick formations installed in the water on Davison Head near Roche Harbor, Washington
Straw stick sculptures installed in the Gnome Forest at Seabrook, Washington
Abaca sculptures installed in the San Juan Sculpture Park in Roche Harbor, Washington
Installation of resin cubes infused with glowing glitter as a tribute to the light pylons at LAX, Los Angeles, California
Straw stick sculpture on the Coronado Central Beach in San Diego, California
Paper sticks painted with acrylic installed in the mud flats of Westcott Bay in Roche Harbor, Washington
Paper, adhesive and spray painted stick formations installed on the beach at Seabrook, Washington
