Environment

“The Last Sea”, in Water Over the Bridge, the Morean Art Center, May – June 2018
Work with the environment began with the destruction and ensuing poverty caused by Katrina, and two, Jared Diamond and his Easter Island lecture. These two examples of man’s greed and lack of will led me to believe in our world’s ultimate demise; self-absorption to self-destruction.
These events turned me from primarily painting to owning space via installations. The challenge still inspires the work. The two-plus years spent making the “The Last Tree” installation speaks to the manifestation of time, and in itself, rewards the effort.
Scarred and stitched textures, transformed from the silk organza I stain, metaphorically mimic surfaces, whether ours or in nature. Silk organza-clad objects are stuffed with human hair and became a signature for its intrinsic DNA and endearing symbolism, a symbiotic link to hair living beyond death.
A lasting question is one of purity. How do I flay the complexity of complex environmental issues without preaching? I hope the installations with their allusion to the collapse of societies communicate this intricacy.
Silk organza, cotton organza, yarn, thread, graphite on panel prepared with modeling paste, wood stumps and branches,
old pails, various stones and polished glass, enamel paint, upcycled cast paper bricks from junk mail and old files. About 32 x 26 feet
Silk organza, cotton organza, yarn, thread, graphite on panel prepared with modeling paste, wood stumps and branches,
old pails, various stones and polished glass, enamel paint, upcycled cast paper bricks from junk mail and old files. About 32 x 26 feet
Silk organza, cotton organza, yarn, thread, graphite on panel prepared with modeling paste, wood stumps and branches, old pails,
upcycled cast paper bricks from junk mail and old files, drawings on paper and panel. About 32 x 26 feet
Silk organza, cotton organza, yarn, thread, graphite on panel prepared with modeling paste, wood stumps and branches,
old pails, various stones and polished glass, enamel paint, upcycled cast paper bricks from junk mail and old files. About 32 x 26 feet
Graphite on modeling paste on panel.
Graphite on modeling paste on panel.
Graphite on Claybord cradled panel.
Graphite on moleskin paper, 8×5 inches
Graphite, graphite powder, thread, silk organza, canvas, modeling paste, encaustic, rusted chain, a tree stump,
rusted steel frames, rust, tea, human hair, wool, string, thread, cast wax (microcrystalline, paraffin, beeswax) and silver pail
Graphite, graphite powder, thread, silk organza, canvas, modeling paste, encaustic, rusted chain, a tree stump,
rusted steel frames, rust, tea, human hair, wool, string, thread, cast wax (microcrystalline, paraffin, beeswax) and silver pail
Wood boat, paddles and windows, rust/tea-stained silk organza, cheesecloth, thread, yarn, string, rusted chain, old nails,
miniature plastic bottles, tree branches, marble stones, beach sand, Giclee prints of monotypes.
Wood boat, paddles and windows, rust/tea-stained silk organza, cheesecloth, thread, yarn, string, rusted chain, old nails,
miniature plastic bottles, tree branches, marble stones, beach sand, Giclee prints of monotypes.
Silk organza, cheesecloth, chiffon, rust, tea, human hair, encaustic, wool, string, thread,194 pails, and a video of tree chopped by ax and chain saw
with an original soundtrack by Lin Culbertson. Image: Installed at Burchfield Penney Art Center Buffalo NY, 2016 -2017
Silk organza, rust, tea, human hair, thread, yarn, and steel pail.
Silk organza, rust, tea, human hair, thread, yarn, and steel pail.
Silk organza, rust, tea, human hair, thread, yarn, and steel pail.
Silk organza, Cheesecloth, rust, tea, human hair, thread, yarn, string, and steel pail.