Early Works

In 1970, Rosalie Zetoff assembled a group of artists in my hometown of Bloomfield, CT, and formed the Wintonbury Art League. I was immediately captured by the artists and their enthusiasm. Every month brought a new speaker and demonstration: Rosalie Zetoff with her pen and ink; Margot Rosenthal with collage; Diane Marinaro, Glo Sessions, and Paul Zimmerman with acrylic and oil; Betsy Tanzer with pottery; and Jean Roberts with papermaking and assemblage.

In 1972, the year of the Watergate scandal, I took a basic art class at Bloomfield High School. My teacher, Ionis Martin, taught me to draw what I saw (the first few drawings here). She was instrumental in forming the Artists Collective in Hartford, and invited me to participate in the silkscreen classes. Bill Toulis, from Pratt Institute, led the group. He commuted once a week from New York City to spend Thursday evenings with us for ten years. Those formative years were filled with friendship and encouragement, and I wouldn’t be having this show without all their influences and critique.

Having a community of artists is a wonderful way to work together and be challenged. Later, I found the community of quilters to be equally friendly and helpful. Quilters, with their long history of quilting bees, often collaborate and contribute to their local communities. I have enjoyed and relished participating in such group efforts, donating quilts to shelters, hospital neonatal units, veteran groups, and relief organizations.

While my work has always been about color, pattern, and beauty, politics and current events have often crept in, from Watergate and a two-time impeached president to my quarantine quilts and VOTE 2020.