This project combines metalsmithing and calligraphy into an expressive art form through which the artist can celebrate and share both her understanding of life and the creative, loving God who motivates her art.The rich, calligraphic imagery of the Hebrew, Uncial (early Christian), and Italic alphabets was chosen as the design source.A solid understanding and skillful implementation of a variety of metalworking techniques and calligraphic skills were necessary to turn concept into form, idea into language.Designed and executed for this project were four liturgical objects, two non-functional forms, three functional forms, and nine pieces of jewelry. / Department of Art

The primary objective of this creative project was to develop an understanding of the relationship between objects of personal adornment and the spirituality of our contemporary culture. The secondary objective was to produce one-of-a-kind jewelry and table objects that invited the viewer to contemplate the unconscious or intuitive meaning of the pieces. These objects were intended to be reflective of the spirituality of our culture. This body of work employed traditional and non-traditional craft techniques. / Department of Art

The natural forces of earth, sea and sky provide a wealth of inspiration for the creation of jewelry and metalwork. This project involved the investigation of such natural forces as erosion, growth cycles, tides and wind currents, followed by the design and construction of a body of work based on what was observed.During the observation phase, the artist collected source material In the form of photographs, rough sketches, tracings and actual physical evidence o f the natural forces a t work. The designs were based on a synthesis of the impressions gathered, rather than on one particular source. Not only were the visual and tactile aspects of the forces considered important, but the artist's emotional responses to those forces played a role in the designs as well.A total of thirteen pieces of jewelry and three boxes were created. Chasing, repousse, inlay and reticulation were the metalworking techniques primarily used to render the natural imagery.An intensive study of chasing and repousse was undertaken, as these techniques were especially suited to illustrating the wide variety of form and texture present in nature, from graceful, sweeping cloud formations to heavily modeled rock surfaces. The inlay process proved to be an adaptable way of mounting irregularly shaped natural materials, particularly shells, in the jewelry and boxes. The swirling quality of reticulation effectively represented such textures as the ruffled fungal growths found in forests, or the rushing, foaming tides at the edge of a shoreline.By combining close observation of the effects of natural forces with appropriate metalworking techniques, an aesthetically striking and highly original collection of jewelry and metalwork was conceived and executed. / Department of Art

The primary objective of this creative project was to fully explore and analyze the centuries old technique of lost wax casting.The secondary objective was to produce a body of work combining my creative inspirations from nature and my African culture.This body of work employed a variety of traditional metalsmithing techniques combining raised/constructed hollow ware, in a variety of metals, with cast metal forms. / Department of Art

During the Middle Ages, books were rare and cherished art forms, individually hand-crafted and decorated both on the pages and on the covers. Monks transcribed religious documents and classical literature with beautiful calligraphy, bound the pages together, and illuminated the covers with leather, silver, gold, ivory, enamels, and jewels.The purpose of this creative project was to research the history of bookbinding and its metal ornamentation, focusing on Medieval treasure bindings, and to explore and execute the historical bookbinding and metalworking techniques which were studied. Four books were constructed using the flexible bookbinding method, covered with leather, and decorated with enamels, stones, etched brass, silver filigree, and constructed closures. / Department of Art

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-126). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2005. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Richard Helzer.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, March, 2000. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, June, 2000. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio University, June, 1998. / Title from PDF t.p.