I am
Me
I am a Woman
One
Woman
Who stands alone
Until
I bend
Me
Into the
UNKNOWN
the
NOTHING
Then
I am REMADE
then
I Can Create
and
Draw
and
Paint
By Myself
and with
Many Others
And
We
Create
Beauty

Debra began her artistic life as a quilter, working with color and pattern to produce art quilts. Introduced to Batik, where she could create patterns and colors using wax and dye, she left piece worked quilts and began painting on both cotton and silk panels. Utilizing this method, Debra began exploring the Divine Feminine, creating large hangings of Sophia, God's Wisdom. At the same time she began going into the Cleveland schools as an Artist in Residence. Here, in tandem with the teacher, she designed art projects to enhance the student's academic work.

This creative resourcefulness led to many kinds of projects. Large, eight foot puppets were built by students for shows and parades. Children in school wide assemblies or in their classrooms created Shadow Puppet Theater. Debra also taught basic art concepts so that students could create shadow puppets, murals, banners, T-shirts designs and paintings to bring their academic work alive.

This give and take with students not only enriched Debra's own work but led her into creating large scale community projects. The first was a mural painted on fifty aluminum boards cut to fit the front of the Helen S. Brown Senior Center in East Cleveland, Ohio. This mural, which depicted the senior's activities and the buildings of East Cleveland was designed and painted by youth and seniors to enhance their community and to build their self esteem. Several other community projects have followed. Please go to the Gallery to see some of Debra's work.
For futher information, please contact me.