ABOUT Julie Girardini (b.1963 – U.S.) STATEMENT:I believe it is my responsibility as an artist to keep telling stories of our histories. I am obligated to observe the word around me and make some sense of it through visual means. Successfully doing this gives meaning to the social concerns and heightens awareness in each of us. I’m influenced by the journeys we take in our lives. I am interested in how we travel from one phase of life to another. Sometimes it involves a physical move. Other times it is an emotional shift. How do we make it feel like home? When do we know we are ready to move on? Do we get stuck on concepts of safety and security, or do we honor the opportunity for growth? I symbolize this through my use of iconic forms: boats, nests, houses…for me these forms hold histories. Where we have been and where we are going. My primary use of steel gives permanence to these structures, but I push the boundaries by mixing in elements of glass, wire, paper and encaustic to bring a feeling of fragility and the ethereal nature of life. BIOGRAPHY: PUBLICATIONS:American Craft Magazine – August 2013500 Books Volume 2 – Lark Books 2013Bespoke – Schifler Publishing by A. Rooney 2012Artists of the Mid Atlantic – Schifler Publishing by A. Rooney 2011Home and Design Magazine – Fall 2007 Education:Self taught – Sculpture and DesignUniversity of Maryland – BA in Art History 1991Anderson Ranch – Intensive with Yuriko Yamaguchi Exhibitions:Zenith Gallery – Washington DC “Singular Vision” 2008Gallery 555 – Washington DC “Parallels” 2011Artique Underground – Frederick MD “Two Person Show” 2012Zenith Gallery – Washington DC“Yours, Mine and Ours – 2 Person Show” 2013 Juried Shows:American Craft Council ShowsPhiladelphia Museum Craft ShowWashington Craft ShowEvanston Craft ShowMany other juried shows all over the US. Galleries:National Gallery of ArtFrank Lloyd Wrights Falling WaterArtful HomeArt Institute of ChicagoMany Independently owned local retailer throughout the U.S. and abroad COLLECTIONS:United Christian Parrish – Reston VAKaiser Permanente Bethesda MDAmerican Embassy in Ottawa CanadaPark Potomac – Rockville MDVolt in Frederick MD