Penny Circled Lapel Pin

Copper, Silver

0.75 x 0.75 in

I come from a lineage of laborers- men and women who worked corn farms, printing presses, beer trucks, and construction sites. I value skilled physical labor and am proud to follow in their footsteps by using my hands in everyday life. Unlike my forefathers, as an artist in the twenty first century I am able to make art objects that exist as declarations of the importance of the handmade while challenging these same systems. Through technique my artwork manipulates materials that evoke American iconography, working-class heroes, and national pride. My objects are celebrations of American families and the blue-collar work ethic that binds the heart of the United States.

I find materials endlessly intriguing; the most skilled metalsmith or woodworker has their days of material defiance. Investigating a variety of mediums and pushing their intrinsic limitations to the point of disaster is continually enthralling. I cherish working with found materials whose history is physically evident. Imagine a copper penny lying on a sewer grate. On that stamped coin there are dents, scratches, a dull patina, and a worn down Abraham Lincoln. Each of these inconsistencies is evidence that it has been passed through the hands of countless people. When that penny is picked up and used in a sculpture the new object is layered with rich stories of struggle and triumph. Through material, I strive to make artwork that interests a broad range of viewers and enriches American life.