I was the scientist in an artistic family, growing up in the burbs of New York City. The first half of my life was spent developing my left brain, as a veterinarian and an environmentalist, growing living (replantable) Christmas trees on my small farm in Tucson.
I was always aware, though, that something was missing in my life, and a doozy of a midlife crisis and dark night of the soul showed me what it was. My life changed dramatically after that, and one of the changes was to replace one passion, playing polo, with a new passion, blacksmithing. For ten years, while working and raising my children, time for forging was limited; then, fifteen years ago I sold my veterinary practice and started working in my smithy full time, developing my right brain. I took art and sculpture courses at Pima Community College, read extensively, and gave myself permission to play with iron. The result was a style of organic, usually botanical forms, and a love of forging and welding found objects into furniture and sculpture. I forged empty nests when my kids went off to college, and “branched out” to aquatic and landscape dioramas.
I enjoy forging and welding pieces that are purely decorative, pieces that are unique and functional, and ones that are conceptual and have a narrative. The important thing for me is the time spent in my shop, in the zone, playing.
My Resume
Art Festivals
55th Annual Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, June 22 – 24, 2018 (see Awards)
Sculpturetucson.org sculpture show and sale, Brandi Fenton Park, 2018 – 2019
Santa Fe Recycled Art Festival Nov 2018-2009
Sun Valley Art Festival Aug 7-9, 2015
Crackedpots Recycled, July 21-22, 2015, also 2014, 2013
Bellevue Art Museum Artfest July 24-26, 2015
Indian Wells Objet Trouve Found Objects Festival, Indian Wells, CA April 3-5 2015
Galleries
Gallery without Walls Exhibition, Lake Oswego, Oregon 2019 – 2021
Petroglyphs, Tucson, AZ April-May 2015 Featured Artist
Petroglyphs, Tucson, AZ
Shidoni Sculpture Garden, Tesuque, N.M. 2010-2012
Contents, Tucson, AZ
Borderlands Brewing Gallery, Tucson, AZ
Ted DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Tucson, AZ Feb 11, 2018 – Feb 23, 2018
Group Museum Exhibits, Juried
Museum of Biblical Art, Dallas, TX, James Surls Invitational Exhibition Aug – Oct 2019
Oct 13, 2017 – Aug 30,2019 Fifth Biennial Richard and Pam Salmon Sculpture Competition. San Angelo, TX. 1st Place Winner for “Circle of Life Recycled Pond”
Mingei International Folk Art Museum, 2004. San Diego, CA
Amarillo Museum of Art Recycled Exhibition March, 2012 See Awards
Process Museum, Tucson, AZ January 2012 – 9 pieces
Shemer Art Center and Museum, Scottsdale,AZ. 4 pieces in Objectified March-April 21, 2009
Art Without Walls, 2006. South Street Seaport Pier, New York City, NY
Group Exhibits, Juried
Flagstaff Arboretum, Botanical Blacksmiths 2010-2020
Tucson Botanical Gardens: Botanical Blacksmiths, April-May, 2018
Tucson Jewish Community Center Sculpture Garden, 2018-2019, Blacksmith’s Pond
Tucson Jewish Community Center Sculpture Garden, 2016-2017
Tucson Jewish Community Center Sculpture Garden, 2014-2015, Spiraling picked as signature sculpture for brochure.
Flagstaff Arboretum, Botanical Blacksmiths; July-Aug 2012-2017
Tohono Chul, Botanical Blacksmiths, March, June, 2014 – 2015
Tohono Chul: Metal, Stone and Wood, Tucson, AZ, September 2012
Sculpture in the Hills, Hill City, South Dakota, July, 2012 See Awards
Santa Fe Recycled Art Exhibition and Sale Nov 2010 -2016
Arizona Designer Craftsman 50th Anniversary Juried Exhibition Mesa Contemporary Arts June-August 2010
Loveland Sculpture Invitational Show and Sale August 2010 – 2015
30th Annual ADC Exhibit at Mesa Art Center July-August 2010
Prescott College Art Gallery, Prescott, AZ, Fire Works, July, 2009
Mesa Art Center, Mesa, AZ. Resurrect, June-Aug, 2009
Tohono Chul Park, Tucson, AZ; Re-Visions, May-July, 2009
Grand Junction, Colo. Art on the Corner, 2009
Tucson Museum of Art Designer Showhouse, March-April, 2009
Contents’ Unique Offerings Exhibition March – April 2009
Tubac Center of the Arts February 2008
Designer Craftsman Exhibit at Tohono Chul Park Gallery 2007
Details Art and Design, El Cortijo Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit, March-April, 2006. Tucson, AZ
Surface Intrigue, January-March, 2006. Tohono Chul Park, Tucson, AZ
Contents Interiors, 2005-2006. Tucson, AZ
Tucson Museum of Art Gift Shop, 2005-2006. Tucson, AZ
Turquoise Tortoise Gallery, 2004-2006. Tubac, AZ
Tohono Chul Park Shops, 2006. Tucson, AZ
Wild Holly Gallery, 2006. Carefree, AZ
Pima Community College Student Art Exhibit, April 2005. Tucson, AZ (See Awards)
Obsidian Gallery, 2004-2005. Tucson, AZ
Details Plaza Palomino Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit, 2003. Tucson, AZ
Contents Interiors Unique Offerings, March-May, 2005. Tucson, AZ (See Awards)
Group Exhibits, Non-Juried
Tucson Botanical Gardens, Arizona Blacksmiths Exhibition April 13 – May 31 2018.
Tucson Sculpture Festival, February 1-15 2013,
Rodeo Days Art Show, February 23, 2013,
California Blacksmith Assoc., California Spring Meeting Members Gallery,
April, 2006. Exeter, CA
California Blacksmith Assoc., California Spring Meeting Members Gallery,
April, 2004. Vista, CA
Artist Blacksmith Assoc. of the North American Bi-annual Convention Members
Gallery, 2004. Richmond, Kentucky
Publications
Arizona Daily Star, Jan. 19, 2014; “Sculpting a Creative Life”
Ironwork Today 3 2011 , Jeffrey B. Synder
Ironwork Today 2 , Jeffrey B. Synder
Dona Meilach Ironwork , Inside and Out, 2006. Two pieces illustrated.
Anvils Ring , Publication of the Artists Blacksmith Assoc. of North America.
Works Illustrated Spring 2003, Winter 2004, Winter 2005.
Anvils Horn , Publication of the Arizona Artist Blacksmith Assoc. Articles and
Photos featured in multiple issues.
Arizona Daily Star , Caliente, All Kinds of Crafts Featured in TMA Market, Spotlight
works by Ira Wiesenfeld, November 17, 2005.
Television
Interview with Sooyeon Lee, Arizona Illustrated, July 12, 2005.
Awards
2018 55th Annual Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts Best in the Open Show for Sculpture
2012 Bill Callaway Arizona Artist Blacksmith Association Outstanding Member Contribution Award
2nd place People’s Choice Award, Sculpture in the Hills, Hill City, S. Dakota, July, 2012; Search Engine
Best in Show, Amarillo Museum of Art, Amarillo, Texas, March, 2012; Shotgun Rocker
Honorable mention “Arte De Descartes X” July/August 2010
Award of Excellence, 2008. Tubac Center of the Arts 38th Annual Exhibition for “Hornets Nest”
Best Art Furniture, 2004. Contents Interiors Unique Offerings, Tucson, AZ
Pima Community College Student Art Exhibit. Awarded Arizona Design Craftsmen membership. Tucson, AZ
Recognition
Elected President, Arizona Blacksmith Assoc., 2009.
Elected President, Arizona Blacksmith Assoc., 2008.
Granted Juried Member Status, Arizona Design Craftsmen, April, 2006.
Elected Vice President, Arizona Blacksmith Assoc., 2005 and 2006.
Education
B.S. Cornell University. Ithaca, NY
Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine, Cornell University. Ithaca, NY
Pima Community College, 1973-2006. Art Courses 26 hours. Tucson, AZ
Memberships
Artist Blacksmith Assoc. of North America, 1990-2017.
Arizona Artist Blacksmith Assoc., 1990-2011.
California Blacksssoc., 2003-2006.