II was born and raised in New York City, N.Y. Both my parents were artistic. I attended Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. where I received a B. A. in Fine Arts in 1964. I continued my studies there and was awarded an M. A. in Humanities. In 1963, while studying there, I applied for and was hired to be Undergraduate Assistant in the Sculpture Department. In 1964, I became Graduate Assistant in that same department. My years two years as Graduate Assistant, gave me the opportunity to experiment in many Sculptural Media. Since, two of the professors teaching in the Sculpture Department worked in Welded Steel, I decided to give that a try. It was my first visit to a metal scrap yard that solidified my choice. In 1965, I was chosen to teach a Hofstra sponsored class in Sculpture for talented High School students. The class was held on Saturday morning at Hofstra and I continued teaching it until 1974. In the years following my graduation I exhibited at the following places. 1967-1968 - I was given a commission by the Windows Display group at Bloomingdales Department store in Manhattan, N.Y.C., N.Y. I executed 4 ‘New Yorker Magazine style Dandies’ for their ‘ New York, New York’ themed windows. Due to the positive comments on those works, I was also invited to exhibit 6 of my sculptures in their ‘Fall Themed’ windows. Along with being shown in the Windows, an additional 4 of my sculptures were placed on consignment in their furniture department. One of which was sold. 1969 - I had a One Man Show at the Avanti Gallery, New York, N. Y. One on my pieces, ‘Aicram’, was taken on permanent collection by Fordham University, N.Y. 1970 – I had a One Man Show at the Firehouse Gallery at Nassau Community College, Hempstead, L.I., N.Y. After graduating with my Masters degree, I planned to continue my Art career with the idea that I would create and exhibit while teaching. But, in the early 1970’s, an Art Teaching job was difficult to find even with a Graduate Degree. Luckily, I had a trade to fall back on. I finished my apprenticeship as a Plastic Injection Moldmaker and began working with my father. In 1974, I met and married my wife, Miki. We moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where she opened a Ballet School. I had contacted a Salt Lake City Fabrication shop before we moved here and was offered a job as a Tool and Diemaker. In 1976, I was hired by Salt Lake Community College to teach Machine Shop and Welding in 'Project Cooperation', an after school program for at-risk High School Students. That program continued until the Federal funding was lost. In 1978, I applied for and got a Plastic Injection Moldmaking job with Sorenson Research. In 1980, Sorenson Research was acquired by Abbott Laboratories. The facility continued as a division of Abbott until 2003, when it was purchased by ICU Medical. In August 2008, after working in the same facility for 30 years, I retired. In the years between 1974 and 2008, I maintained my artistic talents in two ways: Firstly, the hands-on creativity required to build a Plastic Injection Mold was closely related to my 'sculpting in steel'. Secondly, I assisted in designing and building the stage sets that were an integral part of the 'Spring Programs' put on every year by Miki’s Ballet School. During all the years working as a Moldmaker, people would ask me “What are going to do when you retire”? My answer was “ go back to creating my Welded Steel Sculptures”. Fortunately, I have reached that point and am now back to doing just that. M My Story