A ring of mine from the "Chupacabra" serires was selected for Lark Books newest publication, "500 rings.)

My work is featured in the Chicago Tribune's Evanston edition of SOFA Chicago 2011 Dealer Highlights link

SOFA Chicago Lecture Series: SNAG Emerging Artists 2011
9 - 10 am, Room 324, Navy Pier

Three exceptional emerging artists, Laura Prieto-Velasco (Chicago), Catherine Allen (Canada), and Deborah Rudolph (Germany), discuss the development of their jewelry. Presented by the Society of North American Goldsmiths
Artists are represented by Ornamentum, Option Art and Charon Kransen Arts, respectively. SNAG link

20 3 20 has been invited to be exhibit in Greenville, NC as a part of East Carolina University's 2011 Metals Symposium: Shifting Traditions. This one-night show was exhibited at Uptown Art Gallery.

http://www.twentythreetwenty.com/

20/3/20: One Ring by Twenty Artists Exploring the Experience of Wearing
"View work by 20 artists invited to make one ring each in a three week span. Rings focus on the wearer's experience, and are displayed in the open, handling of the work is encouraged."

I was invited by Mike Ruta + Justin Klocke to participate in an experimental jewelry exhibition ran concurrent with the SOFA Expo. The opening took place on November 7, 2010 hosted by Uprise Cooperative Space, at 1355 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL.

Trine, founder of ArtForward was nice enough to post another entry on her blog highlighting some of my newer work. here is a link.

What an honor. I was invited to participate in Points of Departure, an exhibition organized and curated by Sondra Sherman.

I quote from the catalogue "This exhibition and catalog are in tribute to Helen Shirk on the occasion of her retirement as Head of the Jewelry and Metalwork Program at San Diego State University. The international renown of her artwork has helped sustain the prestige of the program for 35 years, bringing students and colleagues from across the US and abroad to study or visit SDSU. This modest selection of Helen's and graduate alumni work presents only a small part of her significant legacy to the world of metalsmithing and the lives of may thankful and accomplished students."

- Sondra Sherman, Associate Professor of Art
Jewelry + Metalwork Program, SDSU

The Chicago Metal Arts Guild held their annual Member's Exhibition and party at Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, IL on Feb 19, 2010. I featured two of my Phona-Brooches.

Artforward (an online contemporary jewelry blog created by an amazingly insightful artist in Denmark) featured some of my work.
You can see more work by following this link.

My work is featured on the in the visual language blog based in Spain: Mar De Color Rosa created by Montserrat Llacomba. Please follow this link to see more.

Manufactured Dissent Interview posted on their blog in December, 2009. To read the article follow this link.

Yumi Janairo Roth, an artist and professor of sculpture at the University of Colorado-Boulder (MFA from SUNY New Paltz, metalsmithing concentration), wrote a review of an exhibition I participated in titled "to be (determined) : an exhibition of the first five." It was published in Art Jewelry Forum's website.

SAIC Sculpture Noontime Lecture Series
Presented a joint lecture with Barbara Knuth.

I performed bulerias, a particular style of Flamenco Dance with a 12 count rhythm, for the first time at the Museum of Science and Industry located in Chicago, IL. The show was choreographed and presented by Rosetta Magdalen, who I also study this art form from during group + private classes held at her private studio, Flamenco Chicago, LLC.

Historically, Flamenco dancers often lead dual lives as blacksmiths and sustained their livelihood through this specific skill. Some of the styles of flamenco dance often recall the rhythm of hammers striking an anvil.

This art form has become an outlet for bodily expression that distinctly compliments my studio practice.

Designed and instructed a workshop for SAIC sculpture faculty on the basics of the CAD software Rhino Nurbs Modeling for Windows. Sponsored by the SAIC Sculpture Department.

to be : (determined) – an exhibition of the first five

October 26 – November 20
OPENING RECEPTION: Nov 6th, 6-8 pm
GALLERY TALK: Maria Phillips, Nov 6th, 3 pm
Juried by Sarah Turner and Maria Phillips

There is an adage in the art world: the first five years are the hardest and the most critical. If you keep making (and making strides) in the first years of an art career, you are likely to succeed and commit to a life of sustained practice. This exhibition showcases artists within the ‘first five’: it is an exhibition which offers a moment to encourage momentum, and is an occasion to recognize new developments in the field of jewelry and metalsmithing.

www.thefirstfive.org

I was invited to serve as a board member for the Chicago Metal Arts Guild for this upcoming year. Please visit their website for more information.

Designed and instructed a natural materials casting workshop titled "Sticks and Stones" at Lillstreet Art Center in Ravenswood, IL.

For this academic year, I am functioning as the advisor of the SAIC Light Metals Student Group. My greater goal with organizing this activity is to create community between the students who may not see each other on a day to day basis. During our bi-monthly meetings I teach technical demonstrations, short powerpoint lectures, and encourage advanced students to explore the creative potential of metal as a material.

I recently participated in the exhibition "Resurrect, The Art of the Reclaimed Object", at Mesa Contemporary Arts in Mesa, AZ. One of my pieces titled "Ginseng Bottle Surprise" was selected for the juror's choice award and is now part of the MCA permanent collection.

For more information click here.

I relocated from San Diego, CA to Chicago, IL in August 2008. "So this is my new home" I thought. New surroundings, new things to uncover, and to bury. Changing environments from one climate to another influenced a new approach to my work. Textures, temperatures, strength/fragility present in the work are extracted from exposure to short hours of sunlight. I'm currently fascinated with a material's potential to visually quiver - just for a moment. How can such moments produce a chilling response when seen?