Southernism

Southernisms represents an exploration of experiences while growing up…My parents and all my relatives are from the south and we would visit each year. Living in Chicago, many contrasts occurred between the north and the south. Several instances of "standing out" as a young man shaped my creative life…airing my dirty laundry and being teased…these explorations have come to fruition through this body of evolving works.

Reliquaries

A reliquary is a container, an intimate, ornate box that held the bones of saints; a spiritual object that one could meditate upon, a representation of something powerful and significant in the eyes of the Orthodox Church. This is the historical context for my object-oriented sculpture. These containers house remnants of the past. Some more directly refer to that history through the use of teeth and animal bones. Others refer to the consumer side of western culture, our obsession with "things" and the emotional/spiritual connection utilizing symbols of wealth. The artwork attempts to deconstruct some of these attitudes towards consumerism by creating art using commercial symbols in plastic media. The work is decorative and "pretty," drawing the viewer in visually and holding their interest through subtle/dark imagery. Things are not as they seem below the surface. The world I create visually illustrates something out of place, fragmented and disconnected, feelings that we often share in our consumer driven society. 

"Self-Portait Reliquary"
Mixed Media Wood

   

"Hurricane Jeanne #1 Reliquary"
Mixed Media, wood construction, acrylic and found objects

"Con-gratulation"
Mixed Media, wood construction, acrylic and found objects

 "Lite Brothers"
Mixed Media, wood construction, acrylic and found objects

"Skull Reliquary #3"
Plexi-glass, wood and found objects

 "Skull Reliquary #6"
Plexi-glass, wood and found objects

 "Snow Globe Reliquary #7"
Mixed Media, wood construction, acrylic, glycerin and found objects

Butterflies

I have explored butterflies for over 20 years and find them appealing for many reasons. Some of which you may feel are obvious, others will be a surprise. Researching these beautiful insects, I found a number of interesting facts: at the beginning, scientists thought the study of butterflies was a frivolous pursuit, much like the way society views art and artists; being without "purpose." There is actually a carnivore butterfly that eats meat/aphids. There is a unique motion to their flight, based on size, wing span and personality. And of course, the notion of the re-arranging in the cocoon. This amazing process that cannot be observed as it is happening, something mysterious and unexplainable, much like the creative/artistic process.

The works below all use butterflies as the main character and in a repetitive, symbolic way.  Each explore decorative traditions, but with an edge, pushing the viewer to make connections to non-traditional, contemporary issues. Media varies in the pieces below, but all experiment with multiple media simultaneously.

Mountain Butterfly # 1 - Mixed Media 8.5 x 7 x 1.25 inches

Mountain Butterfly # 5 - Mixed Media 8.5 x 7 x 1.25 inches

Mountain Butterfly # 7 - Mixed Media 8.5 x 7 x 1.25 inches

Mountain Butterfly # 4 - Mixed Media 8.5 x 7 x 1.25 inches

Skull Reliquaries

Skull Reliquaries are mixed media works made from plastic case, wood backdrop, paint pen, butterfly image, acrylic paint and to scale skull. These works are inspired by Orthodox Christian Reliquaries and the Day of the Dead celebration. In a decorative context these intimate works measure 2.75 x 4 inches.

Studio Installation

Sketchbooks