Click to read his artist statement and resumé

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This is page one of three pages of previous imagery and exhibit series.

This page represents the Whirled Piece Series, the story told below...

Whirled Piece Series, a popular series produced after 9-11 and the beginning of the Iraq War (developed during 2002-2003). Hold curser over images for more information.

These images all utilized aspen leaves, creating narratives, attached and suggested by their titles.  The leaves assumed human qualities in their arrangements and poetic titles, with obvious play on words using double entendre. They were all about how we relate to one another and how we can influence one another.  They are about how natural it is to be whirled and twirled by outside forces. Leaves and trees have often been symbols for the cycle of life, the circle of the seasons, the shifts of time and the fragility of life. 

These images are very involved layers of imagery, built with layers of many different processes of printmaking, several types of Oriental rice papers and manipulated aluminum foil. These elements were collaged onto canvas in many layers, combined with many layers of acrylic and iridescent acrylic painting, including iridescent interference colors. 

All of these images found good homes to be displayed and enjoyed. They range in size from approximately 20 by 24 inches to to over four by five feet.

All images were created without a set top or bottom, each one could be rotated, horizontally or vertically, upside down or sideways. This may suggest the topsy-turvy world and our need to see things differently than we initially perceive.

This is one of three pages of archive images.  See more images by clicking on link.

Aspen Leaf Fetish Foot Stool, 2006
Metal Collage on carved and painted wooden stool:
This unique art piece was produced specifically for the benefit of the north Lake Tahoe community through a special event fundraiser. The project was born through the desire of north Lake Tahoe wood worker and cabinet maker, Charlie Shunk. Shunk’s “Artist in Action” idea was to provide identical, sturdy wooden stools to various artists in his community. He invited them to use their particular skills and vision to enhance, modify and artistically transform the stool to an art piece, a unique object of value. He produced 24 stools that were used to provide funds for various worthy organizations. Charlie Shunk created something that grew and benefited beyond his expectations. I received a stool to do something with. 

As an artist I have been producing art with printmaking since 1980 and complex collage since 1987. The metal collage was an extension of those two processes and an artistic challenge. I began with the thought of how many ways could I manipulate and affect the surface and material of the wood stool. I carved into the wood an aspen leaf shape in several areas and sides of the wooden stool. Some of these carvings ended being covered up with metal collage. As with all of my printmaking and mixed-media collage art there is a lot of layering. Often there are really nice and precious things covered up by additional layers of thought and image. Though you may not actually see them, you might feel them. I chose to not use my typical use of rag printmaking paper adhered to the wood surface with acrylic medium. I had an idea about using various metal nails, tacks, staples, some screws and other pins designed to be hammered into wood or other such materials.

Maybe I could use them to attach other things to the wooden surface. What if I started to manipulate various sheets of metal and transformed them by cutting them into sheets, hammering them, texturing them and using basic cold (without heat) blacksmithing skills and techniques. This was a natural for me because my father was a blacksmith and farrier. I tried to mostly use metal tins from several different kinds of tin-cans. The subtle colors and different surfaces were an interesting starting point and reminded me of some of the metallic paints I use in my mixed-media.

The aspen leaf motif is a reoccurring theme in my art. It is a symbol of nature, of growing and dying. It is a metaphor for the seasons and cycles of life. The aspen leaf, for me, is a symbol of the American west, the country from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. The quaking aspen and its cousin the cottonwood tree thrive along streams and spring run- off areas. Rivers and streams have their own metaphors; one idea flows into another.”

The stool measures 18 inches long, 10.75 inches wide and 9.75 inches high.

This stool was purchased twice! to benefit THE ARTS FOR THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM. It was originally purchased at an exhibit at Vista Gallery and re-donated to the program and sold again at a fund raising event. It was a very powerful experience to create something to benefit the program, knowing I was donating it, and then for it to sell for $1,000, re-donated and to sell again!
Click this link for information about the ARTS FOR THE SCHOOLS program

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