My aspirations as an artisan are grounded in, and find their voice in, the intrinsic beauty of the material world around us. I am especially inspired by hardwood, with its endless palette of colors and textures. And I enjoy finding new ways to integrate hardwood with sterling silver, copper, fabric, glass, and stone, using the best of each material to realize a design.
Beads are a first love. I’ve been making them and using them since I was a kid. Shaped without a lathe, they exhibit an organic look and feel befitting of the wood. I use no dyes in my woodwork; all colors are natural, hand-polished surfaces.
The techniques and designs of my beadwork have strongly affected my designs in other areas. I’ve been concentrating lately on mirror frames for themed exhibitions. Integrating and supporting a given set of parameters or feelings has added a fun dimension to my work.
I am happiest when the materials come together in useful and beautiful ways. In a broad sense, I sometimes consider myself a jeweler. Not only with the making of jewelry pieces themselves, but in the sense of adorning one’s personal environment. Whether through handling a chess piece, putting on earrings, or looking in a mirror while wearing a special necklace, I seek to enhance that experience for the user.
Bio
I grew up on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. While never having any formal art training, I was fortunate to learn woodworking and metalworking from my stepfather, the potter Harry Holl, and be surrounded by color from my mother Martha Boss’ paintings. After moving to New Hampshire in 1995, I shared my work through the League of NH Craftsmen, online, and through craft shows while earning a living in software and raising two kids. I moved back to Massachusetts in 2020, while renovating a 1900 house in downtown Fitchburg, and displaying my work frequently at the ArtsWorcester gallery in Worcester MA. I am also a composer and musician, play violin in the Fitchburg State University Community Orchestra, and record original music.