ABOUT THE artist

I was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a kid, I searched for treasures under the Coney Island boardwalk. After moving to the Midwest, my hunt for beauty continued in the backyard garden.

I’m still a passionate collector. Selective accumulation is central to my practice as a visual artist and performer.

For my work, I often create elaborate, artful procedures that allow interaction and collaboration with audiences. Conversational gleanings get reshaped into cryptic, cursive text drawings. Strangers’ secret stories are reworked into artifacts of connectedness.

Drawing, installation, and dialogue form the foundation from which my interdisciplinary work emerges.

ABOUT THE HISTORIAN

I am a passionate 'hyperlocal historian'. My primary research focuses on the Schenk-Atwood neighborhood and Madison's near east side. However, my historical and creative interests span far beyond those boundaries! I love both contributing to and documenting local culture.

After researching the history of my own house, I kept on going. I worked my way up and down the block and all around the neighborhood. Doing so honed my research skills and ignited a deep appreciation for histories that occur on a human scale. The process taught me that every house holds a treasure trove of stories just waiting to be discovered.

I am involved with the East Side History Club (ESHC) and the Make History Madison / Map250 project. I also serve on the board of the Dane County Historical Society (DCHS). Among the places I’ve led classes are Madison Public Library, UW–Madison, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, Madison Children’s Museum, and Center for Healthy Minds.

Much of my artwork is made in response to the place where I live and my history-keeping is done in collaboration with neighborhood residents. I enjoy opportunities to combine the two.

If you’d like to hire me to lead a House History How-To workshop for your community group, school, neighborhood association, library, or other organization, please reach out. I’m also available to research house histories and/or consult on your efforts.