Work on exhibit, "many connections"

Two of my paintings are currently exhibited in a show titled "many connections" at Marymount Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic hospital. The show is part of a program titled Patients First!. Through Patients First!, Marymount Hospital provides positive distractions for their patients. In addition to exhibiting "healing art," the program features pet therapy, harp therapy, a weekly clown, musical performances from a mother/ son duo, and carolers durings the holiday season.

I am pleased to exhibit art through this program. It means alot to me to have the arts as a healing tool for the ill. I can only hope that my art brightens the day of someone struggling through illness. A special thanks is due for the Patients First! program at Marymount Hospital, Patients First! director Melissa R. Thornburg, MA, and the Florence O'Donell Wasmer Gallery at Ursuline College.

http://www.marymount.org/AboutUs/PatientsFirst/MarymountsPatientCenteredCulture/tabid/1855/Default.aspx

Inspirations: Fontana and Burri

Through reading Monochromes: From Malevich to the Present, I have become extremely interested in the works of two Italian artists. They are Lucio Fontana and Alberto Burri. Fontana is interesting for his use of reductive slashing that shows the space in which a painting resides. Burri is interesting for his textures.

Currently Reading

Drawn to the monochrome for its qualities of unification and infinity, I am currently reading Monochromes: From Malevich to the Present by Barbra Rose. This text is a comprehensive history of the monochrome- pre and post Malevich. It is a delight to have this text as part of my growing art literature collection.

Inspiration: New Work of Sean Olson

Installation is of much interest to me. A recent installation of artist Sean Olson particularly interest me. Using sugar, cinnamon, and wax, Olson adorns the wall. Gorgeous, sparkling sugar that has glass qualities flows of the wall. The scent of cinnamon fills the space. The piece works on multiply senses, another interest of mine. Below is a link to the work, with images:

http://www.sean-olson.com/portfolio/cinnamon4.html

Currently Reading

An important aspect to excellence in anything is a thorough understanding of the given subject. Often this knowledge is gained through reading. Currently I am reading Art and Objecthood by Micheal Fried. I am reading this collection of essays to improve my understanding of art versus object.

In addition, I am reading Art as Art by Ad Reinhardt. I'm reading Reinhardt to gain a better understanding of his black paintings and work in the monochrome genre of painting.

New Works

Pictured is a yet untitled work. It is acrylic and bubble wrap relief on panel with epoxy. The size is 12" x 12". The work floats off the wall approximately half an inch.

This piece is constructed of bubble wrap relief, pulled through using latex and acrylic paints, then placed on a panel which was gold-leafed. The piece floats off the wall approximately half an inch. The size of the panel is 12" x 12". Again, this piece is untitled as of now.

A rendition of my ever evolving artist statement

Working under the discipline of painting, I create paintings that vary in size but remain committed to embellishing the materials I use in creating the work. Within my paintings, to embellish the materials means to decorate using the material. Decorate refers to making more attractive through ornament.

There is a strict criteria I follow when choosing materials. The criteria is two fold. First, the materials I use in a painting tend to be plain things. These plain things range from toilet paper to mustard to bubble wrap. Many of the plain, boring things I choose for my paintings are just around, not typical objects of strong material desire. Second, visual tactility is a criteria in the process of choosing materials. By visual tactility I am referring to using materials which often appeal to the senses of touch and sight.

Using texture, I aim to stimulate the desire to touch. The surface of the painting is multi-leveled, with the intention of tempting the viewer to run their hand over the nooks and crannies. Concerning sight, I employ tactics of gloss and varnishes to draw the viewers’ eye. Once gloss lures the viewer in, I aim to keep the viewer’s attention through layering and slight color differences.