CONNECT ME, PLEASE

As an individual and as an artist I feel I am constantly bombarded by the modern world. Irritation and stimulation work simultaneously on my psyche as I carry on my daily life. As I adapt and respond, I am forced to think and assess my place in the world. When I travel, I become a more active observer in an unfamiliar environment. This shift of perspective away from the familiar moves me into a more exploratory mode where new stimuli trigger reactions provoking thoughts and ideas in my mind.

My recent work is most closely related to “installation” which results from my current philosophy of art. I am interested in finding and using materials selected from hardware stores, building material warehouses, and junk shops applying the familiar principles of color, composition, and design as I combine and manipulate chosen materials. My mind directs me to investigate and explore alternative views and mechanisms for artistic expression; therefore, elements of time, space, distortion and dissonance are included in my art making process.
Cracks in the Pavement offers a laboratory for art and public places provide the setting for experimentation with the art process. The urban landscape becomes an integral part of the work. An atmosphere is created away from the usual sequence of making art for the gallery or for purchase.

With my works, I am attempting to use locations which are at connecting points in the local urban landscape. By placing the art in an open environment where water, structures, earth and vegetation become part of the composition, I invite the viewer to see the water’s edge or use the bridgework to get them there. The viewer can enjoy the surroundings and the art becomes the excuse to go there. I investigate and reflect on the location using a process for making art that involves few parameters or limits. The transience of the art provides freedom from permanence which allows variety so that rope, paper, rock, and scissors are all possible materials.

I am moved by the serenity, geometry, emotion, and humor of current artwork -- its skillful image rendering and obscure metaphorical references synthesized from many diverse influences. Images are simplified or smeared, icons are deified or trashed, backgrounds and foregrounds are minimized or stretched beyond limits. All is current and new, however allusions to the past render everything historically relevant. Working in this environment as an active participant will help me contribute to the future evolution of artistic expression.