I grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago and joined the Navy at age 17 after graduating high school early. I enlisted as a Hull Technician and earned a spot in the Navy Seabees – a ground based battle ready construction force. I learned many of the methods of construction during my enlistment which helped me to land a job as a union iron worker in Chicago. I have always had a curious mechanical mind, but I never had an art education. Instead, on my own I have studied mechanics and physical movement while paying attention to proportion and size. I like to challenge myself to create realistic sculptures from gears, springs and threaded rods and other castoffs. I find the color and patina of naturally occurring rust very satisfying and I work to preserve that to convey upcycling and reuse in my art. I really enjoy keeping these materials out of the landfill.  I enjoy using inanimate metal objects to create art that seems to twitch and move. I have been very busy creating and sharing my work in Veteran art shows and on social media.  I won Second and Third place at Scrapfest 11 in Michigan, and I won First place nationwide as an artist competing in the VA Creative Arts Festival. I have enjoyed showing and selling my work in art galleries across the country and working with other veterans to show our creative side. It is important to me to show that Veterans coping with the mental and physical scars from combat can find solace in art and music and use a creative outlet to be a positive force in the world.

I have also found music a powerful outlet. I started playing drums in 2008 and formed a band in 2009 (The Seventh Sons) and (7^TH Sons) I am very fortunate to have recorded and distributed two albums on all streaming outlets- Pandora, Spotify, Apple music. We also have a couple of professionally made music videos. My Motto is: “Creativity Heals!”