About the Artist
Artist's Statement
Working as a gallery director, curator and performing arts presenter, for twenty-five years, I had the privilege of connecting audiences with artists across a broad spectrum of visual, performing and literary arts. Now I am back in the studio here at our home in North Central Idaho. In resuming my work as an artist, I am taking inspiration from the experiences, pivotal events, and unexpected but significant occurrences that have caused me to see the world from an altered or new perspective.
My goal as an artist is to explore the complexities of life and the layers of experiences that shape us. Through my abstract works, I aim to peel back the surface and reveal what lies beneath, capturing the moments, randomness, and elements of chance and choice that influence our existence.
Using acrylic on paper and board, I create textured surfaces that resemble encaustic, allowing for a rich and immersive visual experience. Each painting is a journey of building up layers and excavating, sanding back to uncover the hidden depth and meaning within.
Just as in life, there is an element of chance in my creative process. However, there is also intention in deciding which layers will prevail, which colors, shapes, and textures will persist. This metaphor for life invites viewers to reflect on their own personal experiences, sparking visual discovery that is free from filters or distractions.
I hope that my artwork serves as a catalyst for introspection and connection, provoking the viewer to question what seeps through the sediment and rises to the surface of their own lives. By capturing the essence of these pivotal events and unexpected occurrences, I aim to provide a unique perspective that encourages personal growth and reflection.
Biography
I am a native of Detroit, Michigan and have called North Idaho my home since arriving from Miami, Florida in 1990. I have served as the director of the former University of Idaho Prichard Art Gallery, in Moscow, for ten years and after that, as the director of the Visual, Performing and Literary Arts Committee and WSU Performing Art at Washington State University, Pullman. During this time, My husband Lonnie Hutson and I co-founded Sundog Expeditions, outfitting guided river rafting trips in Idaho, Oregon and the wilds of Alaska for over twenty years. I earned a BFA in graphic design and photography from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and an MFA in drawing and painting from the University of Idaho. Today, I am living and working as an artist at my rural home in the woods near Deary, Idaho, which I share with Lonnie, two cats, a Belgian Shepherd dog and an abundance of nature’s critters.
