About Me
I received a B.A. in Fine Arts from Cal State Long Beach in 1981. In 1983 I was one of the first two women to graduate from L.A. City Fire Academy where I met the love of my life, Dave Bender. Dave and I have four children. Our two boys are currently serving in the U.S. military. Our oldest daughter is a nurse in the U.S. Navy, and our youngest daughter is a student at University of Montana.
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I enjoyed my years as a stay-at-home mom and Girl Scout leader. I spent 15 years as a volunteer with Art To Grow On, a nonprofit organization designed to bring art to elementary school children.
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Creative inspiration comes from everything around me. I love color and movement - to me watching fish swim is like watching a graceful and beautiful dance.
Although I paint, mosaics are my passion. Creating something beautiful AND permanent is essential to me. My larger mosaic installations always involve pulling people together through art, often using various community groups. Art is my own personal therapy and I have found that teaching art to someone can give him/her the same positive benefits.
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