Artist Statement
I believe in hard work and play!
Specifically transforming unlikely materials and art media to produce my art, and employing a variety of techniques including assemblage that requires basic wood working, jewelry making, printing and stamping, collage, sgraffito, etc., makes every new work a new investigation and puzzles I have to solve. As with a Google search, the elements I use can change the responses, sometimes dramatically. I like to work in series tending more towards 20 expressions on one visual or theoretical idea, but rarely isolated one-of-a-kind works.
I take, seemingly, unrelated expeditions that lead me to other ideas. I choose a chaos-to-order approach when I work, mostly enjoying not anticipating the exact results. Landscape is a re-occurring part of my paintings. I observe and photograph the land extensively; so far I have not shown the photos as stand alone art works.
Race issues are critical to my work; I measure my responses so the conversation does not accuse, but rather reminds and informs. Teaching is a natural instinct for me, lecturing about how artists addressed beauty, personal pain and injustice, religious beliefs and love.
I don’t have the luxury to not address race, an issue that constantly touches my life and the lives of my family and friends, and is still a national dilemma. Gender issues are significant and are addressed in my art and in writing on my blog.
I never wonder what is next when it comes to my art practice. I never run out of ideas. I never feel that art making is a chore. It is my enduring passion and, my family aside, the love of my life.
The list of artists who have influenced my work is extensive.
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