Biography

Elizabeth began studies at Iowa State University in physics and graduated in 1973 with a BA in fine art and k-14 art teaching credentials. Graduate work in visual literacy, Art Education Department, College of Design, Iowa State University.

She is a versatile, experimental and inventive artist in many media, including painting and drawing, wood carving, ceramics, metal tooling and earthwork installations. Her pieces tend to be highly textural, often incorporating earth materials, and elegant in effect. Her subject matter often references aboriginal mythologies and images within the collective unconscious, expresses the multidimensional nature of reality in contemporary science and spirituality, and sometimes she simply seizes the present moment to depict the world outside her studio in the Volcano Rain Forest.

She spent most of her art making and teaching career in the Puget Sound area of western Washington, where she showed work in various Northwest galleries and created many commissioned public art pieces funded by such organizations as the National Endowment for the Arts, the State of Washington Arts Commission, the City of Tacoma Arts Commission and the Pierce County Arts Commission.

Since moving to Volcano, Hawai'i in June, 2003, Liz has been busy collecting materials and expressing her environs through new media combinations. She recently became a new core member of the Volcano Artist's Hui.

Teaching

Pierce College, Lakewood, WA: 2- and 3-dimensional design at Pierce College in Lakewood, WA

University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA: Art Education

The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA: Art Education

Washington State Arts Commission artists-in-the-schools under various "artist-in-residence" programs throughout the state of WA.

Designed and taught successful "art after school" programs in Tacoma, WA and Dupont, WA.

Children's Arts programs in Tacoma, WA and on Hawai'i island, at Holualoa and Volcano Art Center

K-5 Art teacher, Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences, 2007

Conducts various on-going workshops and classes in the Volcano area

Besides activities associated with art making, she has also served time as a marketing and public relations director, an advertising designer, public art administrator, environmental educator, and writer.

Recent Shows and Awards

Honorable Mention, Trash Show, 2005, East Hawai'i Cultural Center (Hilo, Hawai'i)

Juror's award, 2006 spring exhibition, East Hawai'i Cultural Center

"Raven Speaks in Shapes of Silence" Exhibition at Art-in-the-Iron Works Gallery, Nov 10-Dec. 21, 2006 (Hilo, HI)

"From the Highway", group show, Wailoa Center, Hilo, Feb. 2007

Third prize, 2-d category, "Abstract Only" show, Wailoa Center, Hilo 2008

First prize, Spring Exhibition 2009, East Hawai'i Cultural Center

First prize, sculpture division, Hawai'i Nei (native species), Volcano Art Center Gallery (Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park), June 2009

Sculpture Invitational, East Hawai'i Cultural Center, Sept. 2009

Juried Fall Exhibition 2009, East Hawai'i Cultural Center

"Collaborations with The Unknown", two-person show, Volcano Art Gallery, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Jan. 2010

Gallery Representation

Volcano Art Center Gallery (located in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park)

Living Arts Gallery, Hawi, Hawai'i

Grove Gallery, Hilo, Hawai'i