"Local business woman, artist, and member of the West Liberty Area Arts Council. My work represents an exploration of a variety of mediums, history and experience. From 1989-1992, I was awarded an ISU College of Design scholarship for excellence, I interned at the Octagon Center for the Arts, and had my first show at Summerfield’s at the Gateway Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Ames. In 1992 I received my BFA in Fine Arts with an emphasis in three areas: printmaking, calligraphy and metalsmithing, from the College of Design at Iowa State University in Ames, IA. 

After graduation, I worked for Blick Art Materials in Iowa City for a few years. Then I switched my focus on personal development and went to work for a client-based business. Through that experience, I began to improve and sharpen my interpersonal and business skills, which has benefitted me when merging the necessity of art and business. In 1997, we moved to our current home in West Liberty. I began to recognize the need for an art outlet and how art and culture partnered perfectly together with the diverse community West Liberty has to offer. Little-by-little, with the right group of enthusiastic folks, my passion and art background proved as an asset in assisting in the creation of the West Liberty Area Arts Council and later, the Brick Street Gallery. 

As for my art…

One of my printing processes involves Intaglio (pronounced: in-TAL-ee-oh), printing. It’s a process that dates back to the 1400’s using techniques of acid etching, dry point engraving and aquatinting onto a copper (or zinc) plate. Ink is then applied to the plate, rubbed to remove the excess leaving the ink only in the incisions made. Paper is applied over the plate and then run through a printing press with enormous pressure that transfers the ink from the recesses of the plate to the paper. Voila….you have a print! Sounds easy enough when in fact, it is a very time involved and labor-intensive process depending upon the imagery and the size of the plate. 

After college, I began painting and found that I really enjoyed it. Especially after I found Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre, where I worked for a time and helped to paint backdrops and scenery for several of their shows. As for my art, I started out painting abstracts and then found myself morphing to a very modernist approach. I have also enjoyed doing pen and ink drawings. I use the stippling or pointillism method with black India ink, as the images and gradations are created with the application of ink dots. 

I love working with metal. One of my creations was constructing a set of modular railings that are self-standing for repositioning. I was able to create those with the help of a great friend that gave me my first opportunity to learn how to weld. It was through him that I experienced how to work with larger scale metal fabrication than what I was used to in small metalsmithing projects such as the broaches and pins I had made before. I am currently fascinated with fiber arts and have been trying my hand at needle felting. Eventually I want to incorporate weaving with the felting. 

Presently, I am co-owner of a local business, Cardinal Sign & Graphics. We do vinyl graphic applications through decals, signage or labeling. I manufacture the graphics as well as install them. It ties into much of my art background, creative skills and hands-on approach and often times, it allows me to travel and work outside, which I love. 

Feeding my creative self is one of my spiritual necessities, so I find that I am always exploring and challenging myself through learning to work with different art mediums. I have been involved with the arts in West Liberty for over 20 years and to finally have a gallery in town has been an inspiring and rewarding undertaking. My ongoing goal is to continue learning and spreading the love of the arts to the worldwide community."

Cara is currently the secretary for the West Liberty Area Arts Council and a trustee for the Brick Street Gallery committee. She serves as the Friday afternoon host for the gallery.