I had my first art related job during high school and junior college at Aaron Brothers Art Mart where I was a runt and spent lots of time pranking my coworkers to pass the time. We would play UNO, launch yard sticks with those big rubber bands and roll around on the office chairs playing tag - touching the floor was illegal.

Then for some reason, they let me start framing pictures where I would make fake spiders out of framing supplies to scare my arachnophobic co-worker. I was also a gallery design intern of sorts and I taught students how to hang artwork the wrongway... without knowing of course. I moved to SF to go to the San Francisco Art Institute in 1995. I continued framing pictures at a high-end shop where I learned advanced woodworking skills. Having access to a shop during my transition from flat work to sculpture was incredibly valuable.

Eventually, I became a preparator at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) where I improved on my woodworking, carpentry, art handling, packing, lighting, and signage skills. I even learned how to drive a lift. I worked with a lot of talented Bay Area artists and we inspired and challenged each other. It was an amazing time. I did freelance install work for galleries and other museums between YBCA installs so I would be able to sustain living off of part-time temporary work.

Now I work for a wonderful sign company called Priority Graphics (just a little plug). I install signage all over the Bay Area. I've learned how to dig post holes, core drill, hammer drill, jack hammer, glue stuff, and laser engrave and I have the added advantage of borrowing their truck for personal use once in a while. I've had the chance to drive a couple of lifts too... sometimes big ones. Oh yeah, and I started teaching at CCA for the first time this fall.