Experience
Nelles Studios, Elk Rapids, MI
1978-Present
Own and operate an art foundry in northern Michigan and cast sculptures of my own exclusive design in bronze.
The Frazer Bronze Foundry, Seattle, WA
1974-1978
Gained foundry experience
Muskie Bay Trapping Company, Ferndale, MI
1969-1972
Owned and operated a retail leather business producing handmade leather items. Studied shoemaking under Antonio Bava, New York Custom Shoe Shop; Detroit, Michigan Studied under Phillip Hawks at Greenfield Village, Henry Ford Museum; Dearborn, Michigan Further study in leatherwork at Colonial Williamsburg; Williamsburg, Virginia
Education
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Oakland County Community College, Orchard Lake, Michigan
Center for Creative Studies, Detroit, Michigan
Shows & Exhibitions
1995 One Man Show Koucky Gallery; Charlevoix, Michigan
1986 Alumni Show, Center for creative Studies; Detroit, Michigan
1986 Looking at Earth Art Show, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution; Washington, D.C.
1986 Group Show, Traverse City Arts Council; Traverse City, Michigan
1985 Group Show, Cade Gallery; Royal Oak, Michigan
1983 Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham Bloomfield Arts Association, Birmingham, Michigan
1982 Two Man Show, Indianapolis Museum of Arts; Indianapolis, Indiana
1980 Michigan Artists 80-81, Midland Center for the Arts; Midland, Michigan
1979 “Skin Forms”, Innovations in leather, H.F. Johnson Museum, Cornell University; Ithaca New York
Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. Coach Leather purchased a piece from this show for their permanent collection of leather art
1977 Northwest Crafts Exhibition; Seattle, Washington
1977 Invitational Exhibitions Bellevue Art Museum; Bellevue, Washington
1975 Northwest Crafts Annual; Seattle, Washington
1974 “Toy Show”, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Association; Birmingham, Michigan
1974 “What a Dish”, plate show, Polly Friedlander Gallery; Seattle, Washington
1973 Beaux Arts Designer Craftsman, Columbus Art Institute; Columbus, Ohio
1972 Michigan Artist Craftsman Show, Detroit Institute of Arts; Detroit, Michigan
1972 Sommerset Art Show; Troy, Michigan
Significant Festival Shows
1990-2017 American Craft Enterprises; Baltimore, Maryland
1986 American Craft Enterprises; West Springfield, Massachusetts
1985 American Craft Enterprises; Dallas, Texas
1973 Milwaukee Lake Front Festival; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1972-1974 Ann Arbor Art Fair; Ann Arbor, Michigan
1972 Northeast Crafts Fair; Rhinebeck, New York
Trade Shows
2017 American Craft Retailer Expo, (ACRE) Philadelphia
1990-2016 New York International Gift Show, New York
1990-2000 Buyers’ market of American crafts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Work Shown in Publications
Numerous Newspapers throughout the United States
Numerous Catalogs including Artful Home and Uncommon Goods
Michigan Artist Craftsman Catalogue
1976, National Geographic Magazine, December,
1973, The Art of Working with Leather by Stephen Edwards, Chilton Book Company
1972, Ann Arbor Art Fair Catalogue
Plant Hangers, by Donna Z. Meilach, Crown Publishing Company
Photos and descriptions of The Ferris Wheel and The Contemporary Menorah are featured in the book "CAST" published in 2017 by Schiffer Publishing
Film
2016, Featured in a full episode entitled “The Sandcaster” of American Public Broadcasting’s nationally syndicated documentary “A Craftsman’s Legacy” as their season three debut. 1984-85, a one hour color documentary film was produced depicting my work and life style. One other artist was also featured in Creating a Living, Artists in Business. Produced by Brauer Productions, Traverse City, Michigan.
Awards
2005 Honorable mention, Regional Show, Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City, Michigan
1999 Honorable mention, Regional Show, Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City, Michigan
1977 Honorable mention, Northwest Crafts Exhibition, Seattle Washington
1972 Winner of the James Yaw Gallery Award at the Michigan Artist Craftsman Show, Detroit Institute of Arts
1972 “Best in Show” at the Sommerset Invitational Art Exhibition; Troy, Michigan
Work in Private Collections of:
Songwriter & Singer, Sr. Elton John.
Coach Leatherware
Actress Julia Roberts
Olympian Hope Solo
Author James Patterson
Teaching Workshops
1974 Evergreen State College; Olympia, Washington
1974 University of Washington Experimental College; Seattle, Washington
Travel
British Isles, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France and Belgium & Argentina
Commissions
2016, Was chosen from a variety of competitors to design and produce awards for the National Chapter of SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives.) The commission consisted of up to 30 awards to be produced per year for 3 years. In addition to the awards, I also created a one-of-a-kind larger sculpture entitled “Main Street” that now resides at the National SCORE executive offices in Washington D.C.
1980 - Present: Created multiple miniature reproductions based on Alexander Calder’s sculpture, “La Grande Vitesse” for the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan.