Patti Leota Genack Artist Bio

I started making beads in 1997 with the idea that I would be using them as components in my mixed media
sculptures. Somehow I got distracted away from the idea of components and started to make little sculptures out
of glass that were also beads.

I have a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Oregon in Printmaking. My love was lithography. I started
drawing life size figurative charcoals upon moving to Denver since I no longer had access to a printing press.
I'm something of a pack rat which developed into making mixed media sculptures in addition to drawing and
painting. It wasn’t much of a leap for me to start making sculptural beads. I started with abstract beads with rings
and then ruffles and soon I was making glass horse beads. Not a huge stretch of my imagination since I live in
a small ranching community in the Wet Mountains of Colorado.

Since those initial forays into sculptural beadmaking I’ve expanded my “Western” line of beads to include
cowboy boots, cowgirls in chaps, cowboy hats and dias de los muertos Catrinas. I am also involved with
numerous Rock Art Associations in the West and that interest propelled me to make my petroglyph beads.

I grew up in New Jersey just nine miles from the big Apple. Well, when I was 8 my dentist asked me what I wanted
to be when I grew up. I said that I wanted to be a cowgirl. He told me I would have to pick something else because
there aren't any cowgirls anymore. Ouch! I went home totally crushed. Well I'm still not really a cowgirl (no horse
and no cows), but I can dress up and I make the cutest cowgirl beads to wear for the cowgirl in all of us. -Patti

Study, Recognition and Kudos

Um… where to start. Some of the following are from my life as a printmaker,
two dimensional and three dimensional work. This work has informed my creative persona
as much as all those little horrible beginner beads. I’m trying to make this short.

As a Glass Artist: I’ve studied under Loren Stump (1999), Luccio Bubacco (in Murano--2003?),
Leah Fairbanks (2002), and Kate Fowle (2007) .

As a PMC Artist: I’m certified in PMC under Rio Grande (1999) and PMCC (2001) the later with whom
I became a senior level instructior (2001-2007).

As a Fine Artist: My training encompasses Tamarind Institute, NM Professional Printers Training Program (1984),
a Masters in Fine Arts in Printmaking from the University of Oregon (1982-4) and five years of Printmaking at
Pratt Graphics Center, NYC ((1976-81). Award highlights include a Colorado Council on the Arts Scholarship
for Anderson Ranch in Snowmass (1997), a Rocky Mountain Woman’s Institute Associate (1990-1),
A Ucross Foundation Residency in Wyoming (1987).

I’ve taught printmaking in NYC, Oregon and Denver , Bookbinding in Oregon and Denver, PMC all over the
country and demonstrated making a horse bead at the ISGB Gathering in Kentucky in 2005.

My work, both fine and bead/jewelry, is in both national and international collections, private and museum.
As a bead artist it is most important to me to make wearable art that is assessable for everyone.

Publications

2007 Metamorphasis ISGB Juried Show Publication

2007 PMC Decade by Tim Mc Creight

2007 Metal Glay and Mixed Media Jewelry by Sherri Haab

2004 1000 Glass Beads Lark Books

2004 Precious Metal Clay in Mixed Media by Mary Ann Devos

photo of me at 4