I was born in Kentucky, lived on the Gulf Coast of Florida for sixteen years, and have been in Santa Fe since 1999. I’m an Army veteran and a Saponi Descendent. During my time at the Institute of American Indian Arts (refer to my resume for details) I met Dr. Leona Zastrow, owner of American Indian Art Appraisals. Over the next six years she mentored me in the appraisal process and often drew from my lifelong interest in Native art. I came to fully appreciate the value in understanding the techniques, materials, and cultural significance of works created by North America’s original inhabitants, especially by watching, listening, and reading what they say and do about it. Of course, understanding the market is vital as well, and that’s where a lifetime of experience creating, exhibiting, and marketing my own art comes in. Now, I express myself through my writing and fulfill my love of art through appreciating and appraising incredible creations and collections. Thank you for visiting!

Introduction 

I grew up surrounded by Appalachian and Native American arts and crafts. My mother worked out of our house as a seamstress, sometimes even designing and sewing wedding dresses. Whatever we needed, she would make. She taught me to paint with acrylics at an early age. An aunt brought me my first set of oils from a trip to Europe when I was 12. All the while I was learning hands-on techniques of leathercrafting, hunting, fishing and woodcrafting from my dad and uncles. As a largely self taught painter and sculptor, I’ve created, exhibited, and sold hundreds of works, often alongside or in collaboration with Native artists. I worked at the Shidoni art bronze foundry in Tesuque New Mexico, learning and employing the centuries old 7 step Lost Wax Casting method, step-by-step through hands-on experience. While there, I was in constant contact with established artists from around the world, particularly the West and Southwest US.

Attending, teaching and tutoring at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe for over a decade deepened and informed my knowledge of materials, methodology, and historical/cultural significance, and continues to do so. I have lived and worked with my family in Santa Fe’s art market for over 25 years.

Education

  • Master of Fine Arts, Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, NM. 2019

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts, Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, NM. High Honors, 2017

  • Associate in Arts, Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe, NM Phi Theta Kappa 2014

  • Jefferson Community College Louisville, KY. Studied Fine Art and Commercial Art 1982

  • United States Army Radar Electronics School, Redstone Arsenal, AL 1978 Certificate 


Selected Employment Experience

  • Multimedia Self-employed Artist: 1981- present 

  • Consultant and Assistant to Dr. Leona Zastrow (Owner) American Indian Art Appraisals, 2018 - present

  • Adjunct Professor, Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, NM 2019 – present

  • Learning Specialist II, Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, NM 2017 - 2024  

  • Alternative Treatment Through Traditional Healing, Staff member, First Nations Community Healthsource, Zuni Clinic, Albuquerque, NM 2018 - 2022

  • Institute of American Indian Arts Anthology 2015 – Co-editing and production of the Creative Writing Department’s annual anthology 

  • Teacher substitute and guest speaker, Santa Fe Community College

  • Santa Fe Literary Review 2014 - Art Editor and co-editor of the Creative Writing Department’s literary journal 

  • Artisan Santa Fe: Custom canvas stretching, framing, restoration, 2007-2009

  • Craft Cut/ Old West Signs: woodworker, antique sign reproduction, custom canvas stretchers, 2004-2008

  • Shidoni Foundry, Tesuque, NM - Lost Wax Bronze Casting/ Mold making, Metallurgy, Patina, Working directly with artists through the 7 – step production of lost wax cast bronze Tesuque, NM 2000-2003. 

  • Dell Woodworking: Building custom New Mexico style furniture from local Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir, 2000 - 2003

  • Executive Sous Chef Don Cesar Beach Resort and Spa 1994-1998. Banquet, restaurant, and catering management, inventory control, and food production for a 5-star, multi-outlet resort hotel and spa

  • United States Army/ Radar Electronics Technician 1978-1981. Classified

Workshops/Certificates

  • Naropa University Summer Writing Program, Boulder, CO 2017

  • Master Screenplay Workshop/ Trey Ellis, Taos Summer Writers Conference, Taos, NM 2013

  • Master Novel Workshop/ Les Standford, Taos Summer Writers Conference, Taos, NM. 2012

  • Kriya Yoga 2010 Self Realization Fellowship, Encinitas, CA

  • Portrait Painting in Oils/ June Allard Berte, Florida Gulf Coast Art Museum, Clearwater, FL  1998

Awards and Public Readings

  • Book Release Reading and Panel Discussion SWAIA Indian Market, Museum of Contemporary Native Art, Santa Fe, NM. 2024.

  • Rising Stars, Desert Nights Arizona State University Writing Conference 2019

  • Naropa University Summer Writing Program Panel Discussion 2017

  • Tribal College Journal Writing Awards Fiction and Non-fiction 2017

  • N. Scott Momaday Writer’s Award (Scholarship) 2016

  • Truman Capote Writer’s Award (Scholarship) 2015-16

  • Andrew Krusko Sr. Memorial Scholarship 2015

  • Richard Bradford Memorial Scholarship for Writers 2013-14

  • Muse X 2 College Poetry Competition 2014 

  • SFCC Student Writing Awards 2013, 2014

  • The Reporter Annual Writing Contest Santa Fe, NM 2012, 2013, 2022

  • Pasatiempo Annual Writing Contest Santa Fe, NM 2012

  • Foundation Purchase Award / Lensic Performing Arts Theater, Santa Fe, NM 2010

  • Santa Fe City Poster Contest (Common Ground Exhibit) First Runner up 2008, 2010

  • Shidoni Foundry and Gallery Annual Bronze Competition, First Prize/ Corporate Purchase Award 2001/2002

Literary Publications

Poetry Northwest, Hunger Mountain Review, The New Limestone Review, The Closed Eye Open: Maya’s Micros Ed. 20 & 25, On the Run Contemporary Flash Fiction, Tribal College Journal, World Literature Today, Runestone Literary Journal, Santa Fe Literary Review, Connotations Press, Accolades, Voice the Spiriture (IAIA Anthology), Santa Fe Reporter, Pasatiempo, jmww Exquisite Duets, Literary Orphans, (insert title here): IAIA Anthology 2016.

Published Books

Heliotropic, Finishing Line Press, 2024

Into the Unknown Together: A New Mexico Climate Based Anthology, 2023

Maelstrom: Twenty-One Poems Bootleg Press, 2014

Selected Art Exhibitions

  • “Synchronicity” Agora Gallery New York, NY 2014

  • “Mining The Unconscious: A Creative Path to Self –Knowledge” Santa Fe University of Art and Design, Santa Fe, NM 2011

  • “The Rapture Of Form” Agora Gallery New York, NY 2008

  • ‘Six Degrees Of Abstraction” Agora Gallery New York, NY 2007

  • “The Terrain”  Las Cruces Museum of Fine Art/ Las Cruces, NM 2004

  • National Juried Art Show  Farmington Museum, Farmington, NM 2004

  • Student and Alumni Annual Show Florida Gulf Coast Art Museum, Bellair, FL  1998 


Professional Associations  

  • Saponi Descendants Association Member

  • Self Realization Fellowship Kriyaban Yogi

  • Scrubland Films, Santa Fe, NM

  • Human Rights Alliance, Santa Fe, NM

  • Operation Wounded Warrior Support / Little Rock, AK

  • Presbyterian Medical Services Foundation/Hospice Care Santa Fe, NM

  • The Wildlife Center/ Espanola, NM

  • Hollywood Schoolhouse/ Hollywood, CA

  • First Nations Healthcare, Albuquerque, NM

  • Barrios Unidos, Chimayo, NM

  • Challenge New Mexico / Santa Fe, NM