Teeter Totter

Teeter Totter is a culmination of the importance of play in my practice, both in the studio and in life. The color palettes and forms for this exhibition were inspired by commercial plastic and enamel playground equipment and vintage toys. The ability to work intentionally with seemingly endless forms and colors brings me great joy in my studio practice. Foremost is an intention to make pieces that have a sense of whimsy, humor, and color. Audacious, lively, and cheeky, pieces with attitude and intention.

As a high energy artist and educator, play time has always been an important part of the day. Growing up it was recess on the jungle gym, and now it’s skiing and playing games with friends. Playing in everyday life helps generate playfulness in the studio. Using playground-esque forms for inspiration led to making oddly specific and unexpected forms, like a melon display piece, which alludes to playground equipment for inside the home, on the countertop.

The work radiates these feelings of play and joy, bringing levity into the forms and into life.