The creative process is a study of juxtaposition, one rooted in intimacy and in improvisation. It is a balance between being reflective and being present, being certain and uncertain, and in finding clarity and calmness from chaos. I experience wonder and joy as humble metals and materials are transformed into objects that can be incorporated into someone else’s daily life and routines. Jewelry becomes a way to speak with the people around you without speaking, it becomes a vessel that can carry your experiences with you throughout the day. I imagine the objects that I create not as static things, but like stones shaped and eroded by time and wind and rain.

My favorite reflective moments are those of recognition--when my jewelry unlocks a memory of someone’s own joyful experiences crafting art with enamel, at a long ago summer camp or art class, or even at one of my own workshops or classes. Sharing the joy of metalsmithing with others is integral to my artistic practice. I feel gratitude for the amazing students I’ve met over the last eleven years of teaching and endlessly inspired to see their sparks of self confidence blossom into jewelry that be proudly shared with the world.

As Huffalo, I create limited production, custom, and one-of-a-kind wearable art primarily utilizing vitreous enamel and copper. Over the last few years, I’ve become interested in more holistically incorporating the processes of (and scrap metal from) my teaching practice with my production work. I’ve been similarly reinvigorated by exploring drawing, etching, and mark making and their intersections with enamels and wearables. Much of this imagery is inspired by landscapes, distilled from observation and road trips, and daydreamed from memories. I hope that my own recollections can be a catalyst for a wearer’s own quiet moments of reflection.