Yuma Pins 2007

Yuma, Arizon is host to one of the most wonderful events of each year. Craftsmen and artists gather to this town next to the California border to share and meet others from the Southwest and elsewhere in the U.S. The Yuma Symposium is not to be missed. Nearly three days of fun and learning. Thursday night at Lute's Casino is the site of the PIN SWAP where participants may choose to swap pins that they have made with others who have brought pins to swap.

Copper w/LMD decoration, sterling rivets
1.5"x1.5"

Copper w/LMD decoration, sterling rivets, & malachite bead set in sterling
1.5"x1.5"

These pins shown above were made for the Symposium in 2008. I made approximately 60 of the sipmpler ones and nearly a dozen of the ones with beads.

Copper Fountain

Here is one of the fountains made while at Knox Campbell Gallery during the early '70s. They were a very popular item and I received several commissions for installation in homes in the Tucson area.

Pewter and Copper vessel

1980 3.5” x 2.25”

In 1980 I took a pewter workshop taught by Fred Fenster.

This vessel is constructed from a rolled sheet of heavy gauge pewter and then butt welding the seam using thin strips of pewter. It is then shaped using wooden hammers over steel stakes. The bottom is soldered on. The rim was forge tapered and then fitted and soldered to the body.

Dream Container

"Dream Container"

1979 4”x2”x1”

This fabricated sterling container was made during my time at the Visual Arts Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Repousse and chasing were used to shape the container’s lid. Containers and hinges have always fascinated me and I take pride in the smooth operation of the hinge and the way the lids snap onto the body of the containers.

The container is mounted into a carved base of African Wonderstone.

Forged sterling and turquoise Neckpiece

The work of Ronald Hayes Pearson had a profound effect on my work. His work appeared regularly in the books and the craft magazines I read. The first collar I ever forged was directly taken from the demonstration Pearson did in the book Contemporary Jewelry by Philip Morton printed in the late ‘60s.

Here is a neckpiece forge in sterling with a hinged pendant portion mounted with a turquoise cabochon. The use of circles is often seen in my work. It is very satisfying to play with their placement to create designs that appeal to me.