Why do I use so many maps and why did I choose maps as my imagery? Why do I even make artwork and how do I do it? Will anyone want to know the answers to those questions and will anyone want to read about them? We'll see. Just in case someone does, though, I'll get started. At a time long ago, in a place not so far away, I was given another assignment by another professor, Nancy Belfer. I was studying at Buffalo State College in Buffalo, New York, for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Design with a concentration in Textiles. As one of our final projects before graduation, Mrs. Belfer asked the weaving students to create a wallhanging that used imagery that had meaning in our lives; in other words, create an abstract self-portrait. As an Air Force "brat" I had moved along with my family many times when my father had been reassigned to another Air Force base. I also moved to additional areas with my husband, Jim, after our marriage, so I decided that as my solution to the problem presented, maps could be used to tell stories about the places I had lived and visited. Some of my favorite maps are very old and rather tattered, so I decided that would be the style I would use. Why am I making artwork? I don't know. I just seem to keep doing it. How do I do it? I'll tell you.

Now, about my artwork. This is my artist statement: A major portion of my work focuses on using maps as metaphor for life experiences. The chosen maps relate directly to my life, although other viewers may recognize an affinity as they address these allusions from their own point of view. The palette is selected in reference to and with respect for ancient parthment maps. This series is called Mapped Facets. The same materials and techniques are also used to work in several series which reflect other influences, each with its own color range.

The purpose of this blog is to discuss my artwork. That sounds so pretentous, doesn't it? The simple truth is that I'm in need of a presence online for my work and I'm taking this baby step toward a website. Even this first step has been put off again and again. I'm only actually starting today because this is an assignment for a class I'm taking, so thank you Professor Tara Nahabetian for the push into cyberspace. As for the subject of this blog, I've talked about my artwork many times, in front of many people. Sometimes I've sounded halfway intelligent and sometimes I've made a complete fool of myself. I'm sure that'll happen here, too, so I hope that any readers will bear with me.

Mapped Facets 25 1/2" x 48 1/2"

Meander: A rambling or zigzag movement. I wanted to name this blog "Meanderings" because that's the way I function in both my thoughts and in my actions. That name wasn't available, however, nor could I find any available appropriate synonyms. Instead, I'll use the title "Mapped Facets", which is the name of one series of my artwork. I'll still meander, though, because Mapped Facets is only one aspect of my work and my life.