Address: River Forest, Illinois

E-mail: meier327@comcast.net

1998-2000 - The School of the Art Institute of Chicago/MAAE, K-12 Professional Certificate
1997-1998 - University of Illinois at Chicago/Painting/Art Education
1992-1996 - The School of the Art Institute of Chicago/Continuing Education
1989-1999 - Ox-Bow Summer Workshops, Saugatuck, Michigan
1977 - Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois/BFA, Visual Communication

The search for order and elegance within the chaos, and frenetic reality of daily living is played out in my abstracted paintings and drawings. Patterned draperies and bed linens, fragments of monster-like toys, and menacing organic forms have evolved into intricate “gardens” of organic and geometric shapes, patterns, and lines.

I am inspired by pattern, both naturally occurring and constructed. Works by 19th century artists, William Morris and Ernst Haeckel, manufactured patterns on domestic household items, patterns in nature, and historical cultural patterns, especially of Asian origin all provide inspiration and resource material for my work. Fragments of children’s toys with their exaggerated forms and shapes often invade the layers of my compositions. I am interested in the juxtaposition of elegance and menace; bone-like shapes may intertwine with sensual plant forms, incongruous shapes and colors integrate playful line work. My life is not simple and my artwork reflects that fact. My intent is to develop the work into a multi-layered world for the viewer to investigate.

A child’s toy left on his parent’s bed was the impetus for this body of work. What began as a simple exercise of the artist’s need to draw grew into a pursuit of subject matter that has infiltrated my life, much like the children I live with who inspire my work.

My subject matter has evolved from the objects that surround me. As a parent of three children, toys abound. Delicate paisley patterns on my bed sheets juxtapose with "superhero/bad guys" strewn about and forgotten by the owner. The child’s world and the parents are intertwined. The toys and elegant domestic fabric patterns have become metaphors for the struggle to create balance and elegance in a life surrounded by the cluttered reality of family and is played out in these abstracted still-lives. My most current work has evolved into intricate "gardens" of monsters, domestic patterns, and organic flower forms.

Seemingly light-hearted, the layers of information present in many of the works offer a sense of confusion and intricacies prevalent in daily life referring to an adult perception of the family dynamic.

2003 - Brickton Art Center, Maine South Artist/Educators Show, Park Ridge, IL

2001, 2004 - Bare Walls Benefit Auction, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

2000, 2002 - Surface Deep Studio, Spring, Winter, and Fall exhibits, Oak Park, IL

2000 - "Artistudenteacher" Thesis show of works by K-12 Artist/Educators, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1926 Exhibition Space, Chicago, IL

1999 - Museum of Surgical Science One Person Juried Show, Chicago, IL

1998, 1999, 2002, 2004 - Woman Made Gallery Members Show, Chicago, IL

1998 - UIC Undergraduate Juried Show, Chicago, IL

1997 - Midwest Pastel Society, 11th National Juried Show, Schaumburg, IL

1996 - Amos Joseph Fine Art National Juried Egg Tempera Show, Santa Fe, New Mexico

1995-2001 - River Forest Public Library, Two Person Show, River Forest, IL

2003 - Ox-Bow, Saugatuck, Michigan/Professional Artist in Residence
Midwest Pastel Society/Award of Merit
Printing Industries of America/PTA Award
Publicity Club of Chicago/Silver Trumpet Award
Society of Typographic Arts 100 Show
Artists Guild of Chicago Stationery Show

Art Institute of Chicago
IAEA/Illinois Art Education Association
NAEA / National Art Education Association
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
Oak Park Area Arts Council
Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL