Personal note

As my feet touch the ground I look beyond my small world into the larger global experience and am reminded of what inspired my paintings. It is hard not to be affected by the events happening across the earth. Devastation and violence reach beyond the boundaries set up by nations. Indeed it crept into my studio space. What started as a series about the general effects of time and history on our part of the universe became more specific about human choices made for power and greed, so willing to sacrifice the many for financial gain. It seemed fitting to call the series Moloch after the Caanite god to whom children were sacrificed and for my artist statement use the quote from Alan Ginsberg's poem Howl:


"Moloch! Solitude! Filth! Ugliness! Ashcans and unobtainable dollars! Children screaming under the stairways! Boys sobbing in armies! Old men weeping in the parks!

Moloch! Moloch! Nightmare of Moloch! Moloch the loveless! Mental Moloch! Moloch the heavy judger of men!"


Thank you Harry Kent for reminding me of Howl in your moving self-portrait last year. It has been a touchstone for when I need some way to express frustration not only with my petty angst but also the horror experienced by many that I feel helpless to do anything about. 

Stretch of Road

The year end show opening was last night and a tremendous success it was! The attendance was excellent with a great variety of people. The pieces were varied both in medium and in content making it interesting and aesthetically exciting.

It was personally exciting because it had a number of firsts for me. It was the first time I showed a large abstract series, four 4'x3' pieces.  And someone expressed an interest to purchase my work. It's definitely a night to remember when the demons are snapping at my heals.

I will post photos soon.

I received recognition and an award but I'm not sure it was for the video, "Near Journey's End" or the "Moloch Series" since I missed the first part of the announcement. Anyway it's all good.

Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement. It' an honour to be included in such a talented community. It may be virtual but it's definitely real.

Where I've been working this semester

The building is spectacular architecture in the public space.The rest of the building is a large box-like and houses the Trade programs with one large space for Fine Arts. It's a strange combination :D but I think they're getting used to us being there, after all we have a shop in the humungous studio. 

outside view of Cloverdale campus where I've been working this semester

inside the lobby

Raced Past Mid-Term

I didn't have time to notice the mid point of the semester. The Open Studio is a double course, studio time is eight hours once a week plus eight to twelve hours outside class. It has been challenging. I love working in the new space. There are only six of us using it and not always at the same time so it feels like my own studio. I go in every day for three to four hours. I've learned a lot about what I can and can't do with the cold wax medium. Painting four by three foot canvases has been challenging. When something doesn't work it's in a big way LOL. Everything needs to be finished by March 22 fir the year end show jury.

Hope you and your families are well and safe.

End of year show