Creating art was my way to start healing…
It calms my emotions and relieves my stress about the future…
It is how I nourish my spirit…
My goal is simply to create a piece that speaks to me and hopefully to others…I have had a love and appreciation of the arts for my entire life. As a child, I spent several years at the Lafayette (Indiana) Art Center enjoying painting and pottery classes. At West Lafayette High School, art took a different turn, leading me into the musical theater. I enjoyed participating in set design and stage management. As I headed to Purdue University, theater gave way to my love of teaching. I enjoyed a career as a teacher and later an elementary principal. At the age of 45, I was diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer. In 2013, I would be forced to retire due to the illness. The treatments were grueling. During treatment, I found some escape in art. At the urging of my husband, I signed up for a class in mixed media at the Indianapolis Art Center in Broad Ripple. (We were living in Carmel at the time.) At IAC, I met an amazing group of artists! We decided to start a cooperative of five artists and named our group "IndyArtWerkz." (www.IndyArtWerkz.com) We enjoy showing throughout the state.
Creating continues to be my therapy. In February 2017, after two and a half years on the experimental drug Zejula, my cancer returned. In November 2017, I began chemotherapy for the fourth time. In March 2018, I was in remission again and started a PARP drug for maintenance. I continue to fight this disease daily and find solace being in my studio.
