Waves of Life

Joy is a choice. Some days making that choice is harder. People are mean, hearts get broken, bodies don't always cooperate, and sadly, we lose people we love. How do we survive grief, illness, and heartbreak?

I choose joy. I choose to find it in each day, to draw strength from within, and to surround myself with what feeds my soul. From a young age, creating with glass has always brought me joy. When I work with it, the noise, worry, and pain of life fall away. It is my hope that my work brings that same feeling to others. Even when my body doesn't cooperate or my heart gets bruised, I want joy deeply enough to go out and find it. For me, glass is where it is most often discovered.

I have spent time exploring the ocean and its parallels to glass and life. Each is shaped by the world around it. When glass is hot enough, it flows like water — smooth and inviting, or when broken, sharp enough to inflict pain. The ocean has warm, calm days and stormy gray ones, but it never stops moving. It never surrenders. It rides the storm, draws on everything that surrounds it, and perseveres. Ultimately, it returns to its peaceful, calm nature. My hope is that my work invites those who view it to reflect on the totality of their own lives — embracing challenges and appreciating the power of what carries them through. Joy is the result of discovering beauty in the waves of life, and it is my hope that my work encourages others to find theirs.