Conversations in Coffee Talk at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center
This body of work explores archetypal themes found in stories across cultures and history. Objects laden with symbolic power are presented in a bold photorealistic style, while referencing the traditional still life genre. Anything may be used to advance the ideas of a painting, such as a toy, a flower, an antique bronze sculpture, a book end, blown glass vase or tribal mask. These predominately acrylic on Masonite board paintings evoke familiar, but untold myths, for which the viewer is roused to attach their personal meaning and imagine their own story. Together they make the case that our spirituality and identities are interconnected.
Art emerged from myths. Gods and legends were depicted, making the unseen real. In fact, mythical and spiritual subject matter has been a primary concern of art through most of history.
Joseph Campbell, author of the Masks of God, noted that science has been dispelling myths for a few hundred years. But he also observed a growing hunger for them more. 30 years later, it is plainly evident in the blockbuster movies we watch (i.e., Avengers, Avatar), the games we play (i.e., Warcraft), and even in wild conspiracies that plague social media and our politics. Severing our connection with myth has driven people to seek fantasy to fill that hole, or act out against science and factual information.
It seems myth is hardwired into our DNA. These paintings intend to express deeply rooted metaphors, emotions, themes and narratives. The archetypes persist because they reflect fundamental aspects of human psychology and our relationship with the world.
I want each work to have something to say. In composing a piece, I search for items with strong associations and symbolic power to express each myth-based concept. I intentionally draw from many sources, from toys to tribal artifacts, art to advertising, past and future. This creates tensions: disparate objects and cultures, bold dissonant colors, varied textures and the depiction of imaginary figures in a photorealistic style. To hold these tensions together, I often use simple arrangements that can resemble shrines. I find natural elements, such as flowers and landscape, help to diffuse the power of the objects. I aim to invite rather than shock.
I use photoshop as my sketchbook, making adjustment to color, the relative size of objects, alternate backgrounds, and often merging multiple photos together. Once I am happy with an image (sometimes after multiple photoshoots), I work from 8X10” photos. All works are acrylic on board, and may have touches of gouache, marker and spray.I use photoshop as my sketchbook, making adjustment to color, the relative sizes of objects, alternate backgrounds, and sometimes merging multiple photos together. Once I am happy with an image (sometimes after multiple photoshoots), I work from 8X10” photos. All works are acrylic on board, and may have touches of gouache, marker and spray paint.
