mixed media map art from 2001-2008
I have been using maps in my mixed media work for many years. In January 2001 I started using maps exclusively in my collage work. Within a short time, maps became the main medium in my work. Though I do take occasional breaks from working with maps and spend time painting.

I began with a series of small collages reconfiguring pieces of various maps and creating "new" places. The next phase was "map quilts." I called them "quilts" because the patterns resemble patchwork and other quilt patterns. My great grandmother, Helen Nadratowski (1894-1992), was an expert quilter and one of the artists who has influenced my work. The map quilts have lead to a continuing experimentation with color and pattern. I also influenced am by patterns used in pottery, weaving, traditional tile work and basketry. In 2001 I created a large map of San Francisco where each city block was represented by an individual piece of map. In 2005 I began creating some pieces that were more three-dimensional and sculptural. Since 2005 I have been working on increasingly larger works.