I've been living and working in the Northwest since 1984. I came here to find a healthy place to make a living as an actor after being born, raised and educated in and around New York City. I went to college at Adelphi and Cornell Universities. But the Starving Actor in the Big Apple Scenario held no appeal for me. In Seattle, I discovered a vibrant supportive theatre community which allowed me to make a living and explore more creative possibilities than ever imagined.

I started my work as a sculptor and jeweler as "post-rehearsal therapy"... a way to wind down after being "on" for several hours a night working on plays. Polymer Clay literally taught me how to sculpt. I didn't know what I was doing at first, but ability to continually squish things up and start over gave me the freedom to play. Out of the playfulness came confidence and I'd like to think a unique style. I continue to explore the possibilities of this medium, while adding new skills and mediums to my repertoire. My first bronze "Little Sparrow" is on display at Piaf's, a French Cabaret and restaurant in San Francisco. And I'm currently working on a book of vintage neon light photography, a couple of screenplays, an interactive play called "Mafia Family night" and the movie "Curtains".

Techniques and materials: I work primarily on Polymer clay and recycled and found objects. I believe there is life and spirit in everything, even cast off jewelry and obsolete technology. I try to take those things and create characters that don't necessarily look human but feel like people we know. I love it when someone looks at a particularly over the top piece of mine and says "Oh, I know that person!" or "Yep, that's me!".

I create each piece by hand. I try not to use paint or glaze on the clay, because it tends to gloss over the texture my hands leave in the material. So I like to blend the colors right into the material. I use a pasta machine to push the various shades of clay into and through each other to create new shades. This technique also lets me stretch the clay out and make it act like cloth, so I can dress my sculptures with it. Look at the clothing my figures wear. That is all manipulated sheets of polymer clay wrapped around an armature.

My jewelry works equally well as a wearable art piece or a sculpture. You can purchase a stand made of hardware and found objects to display it at work or in a place of honor at home. And since the titles of the pins are just as much fun as the pins themselves, I mount the title on a separate pin so that you can wear it proudly and share it with the all the new friends you're going to make when they see it on you!

Click here to view Greg's Whimsical Wearable Artwork