STEEL ONTARIO, CANADA I am fascinated by the contrast of opposites, which serves as a fundamental theme in my artistic practice. While I utilize both natural and unconventional sculpting materials to create conceptual pieces, my extensive experience in steel fabrication has led me to primarily work with metals. My initial attraction to steel stemmed from its malleable qualities; it is a widely available and quick-working material that offers a forgiving nature, enabling me to express my ideas through line-drawing style panels and skillfully shaped sculptures. Although my work is mainly three-dimensional, I recently experienced a desire to explore two-dimensionality. In this new approach, I utilize my welder as if it were a pencil and my grinder as a paintbrush. However, these creations are still crafted on steel, with rust serving as my palette, and they maintain a three-dimensional aspect. The landscapes I create have evolved from stylized representations of an idealized wilderness to actual sites across Canada. Some pieces pay tribute to the iconic Canadian landscapes celebrated by the Group of Seven, while others are inspired by personal memories. Currently, I am concentrating on seeds, particularly pine cones, which I selected for their intricately beautiful geometric forms and their identity as seeds. I am intrigued by the purpose of a seed, especially its inherent drive for colonization, which is underscored by the fact that these large metal pine cones share more characteristics with machinery and weaponry than with the natural forms they mimic.