As an artist and writer, I'm intrigued by transformation and growth. As far back as I can remember, I've always had an eye, ear and heart for what I'll call the psychology of a situation, and an especially astute and uncanny knack for connecting the dots. Though I've experimented with many different media, it's not surprising that the three that resonate most deeply within me - fiber in the form of wet-felting, kiln-worked glass and metal clay - all require heat to become the finished piece. Just as the heat of life's struggles help us transform and grow closer to who we ultimately will become, each of these as raw materials requires heat to become something stronger, more complete and more informed than the raw material alone. And just as in life, without heat, these materials remain weak and unchanged.