As an artist I have always been interested in texture. In my wall pieces I am particularly excited about the textures that are created when weaving paper. The forms can even become quite sculptural because of the interlocking steps of the design as it is woven. I lived and worked in Japan for several years while also traveling and learning about other cultures throughout Asia. It has been an invaluable opportunity and has had a great influence on me as well as my work. It was during my stay in Japan that I was introduced to the beautiful, richly colored paper used for so many traditional Japanese crafts. It has been very rewarding to me to use a material with such a long history and be able to create something completely new and different with it. The decorative patterned paper that I use in my wall sculptures is a near relation of the ukiyo-e woodblock prints and has been produced for the past two centuries.

In Edo times, a colorfully patterned paper called chiyogami was often designed by artists of the ukiyo-e school, produced by the same sophisticated methods and issued by their publishers. This brightly colored and beautifully patterned paper was bought by consumers of economic substance. Despite its beauty, it has not commanded the respect of art authorities because its use has been mainly decorative and functional, and because it was most often used by women and children. Today there is a large and varied palette of traditional graphic patterns and colors available. Auspicious imagery has long been a popular motif. Cranes and tortoises are a favorite because they represent long life and happiness. Miniature scatter patterns are also popular. They are usually derived from nature, for example, leaves or waves. The four seasons provide another theme, for instance, the three friends of winter: the winter flowering plum, the bamboo and the pine tree which, because they remain green, give hope to mankind during the bleakest time of the year. Some of the patterns owe a great deal to the world of textile art. Often, they are a reworking in miniature of a classical geometric pattern or an abstract textile pattern used for Kabuki Theater costumes. In my work, I hope to create a harmony between tradition and innovation.