About

Welcome to my studio! 

The above photo is a pit firing our group decided would be interesting to accomplish as part the St Tammany Art Association.  We are eagerly anticipating the outcome of our undertaking, an orchestration of the unknowns, after blending various found natural items such as horse hair, shavings, glazes, wire, our clay pieces, along with whatever else looked interesting and finalized with fire as early humans used to produce pots and shards still unearthed today. We did have the advantage of a shovel!

I am in the white and maroon striped shirt along with Bernard Mattox, our fearless leader pictured with shovel in hand, and two other participants of our small tribe of primitive artisans.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana to the most wonderful Sicilian Parents.  My father immigrated to the United States through New York's Ellis Island at the age of 21, with my mother's parents immigrating through the Port of New Orleans before her birth here in Louisiana in 1906.  What a wonderful blend of love, laughter, passion, Food, history, art and traditions growing up in this home with all these special people. 

New Orleans has always been a melting pot of traditions and cultures from all parts of this wonderful planet, during Mardi Gras from planets unknown.  

An artist all my life, educated formally as a Registered Nurse, working initially in the Operating Room, then moving on to the excitement of the Emergency Room for more than 20 plus years.  From the ER I worked many other aspects of healthcare as an RN Consultant including, Psych, RN Paralegal, Licensed Healthcare Risk Manager, Quality Management, Fraud Waste & Abuse Auditor and HEDIS SME as well as Certified Herbalist.  All the while working and producing art keeping me focused on the important issues and how to effect change as a patient advocate.  Art always provided me hope for the future, stabilized, soothed, revitalized and energizes me as my "therapy," breathing life, vibrations and visions into the most common of natural elements...mud.

Over the years I have been so fortunate to have artists as friends to work with, study under, apprentice, share meals, ideas and thoughts or just "play" time in all sorts of media. I cherish them all  and the hours spent enjoying the wonderful conversations, such a blessing!  Franco Alessandrini, world renown Artist and Sculptor; Bernard Mattox pictured above, Professor of Ceramics at Tulane University and St Tammany Art Association; Lori Ellis, Art Professor and Artist, Courtland, NY; Suzanne Longo, Potter and Sculptor; Charles McGowan, Artist; Michael Curtis, Jeweler and Woodworker; John Hodge, Potter.  All of these wonderful artist and friends in Louisiana, and of course Peter Wolf, Potter, Whidbey Island, Washington.  There have been the college art classes and various work shops, but nothing compares to the knowledge, time, thoughts and techniques obtained by spending quality hours with one's friends and playmates.  They were "My Art Majors" and my art happy place.

I have a long line of artisans in my family, paternal as well as maternal.  My father sang opera and Neapolitan songs, was a watchmaker by trade, jeweler and engineer; he could make absolutely anything, held patents for watch parts and I idolized him.  In his later years, he made two beautiful guitars, as well as the molds, tools and whatever else might be necessary to make them; one guitar for me and one for my brother. He had perfect pitch, played the guitar, mandolin, piano, organ and violin.  My maternal grandfather made antiques had a fine carpentry business during the late 1800's in New Orleans and sang at the New Orleans Opera House. My mother was a Home Maker & Housewife, a true profession that today requires multiple people to complete what she did with ease daily without a six figure income or recognition other than our love.  She was an amazing seamstress and her beadwork legendary in our family, making dance costumes for the girls in recitals.    

My brother, an artist as well, left handed which always fascinated me. Our mother taught us both to embroider as children, which came in handy for him in surgery. He is older by 18 months and led the way into the medical field as an ophthalmologist.  He still practices serving an underserved community.  

My daughter, so talented, a hair and makeup artist in the film industry.  Together we managed to carve out and incorporate a small Sanctuary for Birds, Flora and Fauna on approximately  2.5 acres of what was a small community on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, which has exploded since Hurricane Katrina.  The poor critters need a space to call home.  We are trying to reduce the paving of paradise and installation of that proverbial concrete parking lot.

My son, a Metal Artist, Organic Farmer, Farrier, Chef, Fireman, EMT, Carpenter, Adventurer and Travel Companion over the years, living on 85 acres in the hills of Tennessee.  A giver from childhood, he is always there for anyone or anything that may need help or assistance.  He reminds me of a great live oak tree, always trying to shelter others. I am so proud that my children have chosen to give back to nature and the inhabitants of this great blue sphere we all call home.

I worked as a travel nurse in most of these beautiful United States.  In each new place I visited, I made sure to learn about the culture, appreciated the topography, people, traditions and art.  In 1966 I traveled from New Orleans to Managua, Nicaragua by car on business.  Driving through Mexico we decided to stay overnight in Mexico City to investigate the area.  We found a local to take us on a side trip to Teotihuacan where I stood atop the Pyramid of the Sun.  No one there, just me, my husband, the gentleman that brought us and The Wind.  The Wind had a voice that spoke to me there and changed my life.  What an experience that trip was for a sheltered 19 year old Sicilian girl from New Orleans! 

As a family we have "experienced" the Pacific Coast from California to British Columbia; East Coast Florida to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. I have been through the Mid West, Southwest, visited the biggies such as the Four Corners, Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Mount Rushmore, and along the Appalachian Trail in the east.  Penland School of Crafts and The Appalachian Center for Crafts were great inspirations.  So much to experience, so little time.

I love antique real estate as the art form it was intended to be.  Homes today are built fast, not using materials meant to last any length of time.  Perhaps that is one of the reasons I love pottery, glass, mosaics and concrete.  Hopefully hundreds or even thousands of years from now someone will uncover a piece of my art, know that I existed and wonder about the person that created the artwork in their hands.  That is what I think about while creating my art.  When I see, touch and feel the energy of someone else's art, I connect to the energy instilled by that artist.  Passion, love, psychic vibrations and energies of the maker/creator are transferred into the art, food, home or product.  My intent is to connect you to the spirituality and collective consciousness of nature with my art.  If you stay connected to nature and her beauty, you will always feel better, experience peace and ultimately, happiness.  Life is stressful, we need reminders to connect to the important things in life daily, to slow our pace, breathe, take in the beauty and healing of nature. 

Thank you for visiting my website.  If you have questions or would like something specific for you or your space, pet memorial, a special gift, wedding, remembrance or accessory, please contact me. I would enjoy the opportunity and honor of creating with and for you.

I wish for you Love, Health, Blessings & Fulfillment daily in all you experience and art to enrich your life.

Maria