New Drawing Based on Muybridge

Talk about the handmade digital!
Technical pen on paper, 13 x 22 inches.

Train Ride Home - February 29, 2012 - 10:29 pm - Red Line - Roosevelt to Addison

More Symmetrical Architecture

I don't completely understand why I find architectural symmetry comforting. Clearly it has something to do with structure and regularity, looking for a little order in a chaotic world. The attraction to symmetry might come from an early need to connect with faces, which are generally, but not always, symmetrical.

But in the case of this particular photo, my attraction has to do with the surrounding landscape, as unreal and fantastic as it is. Perhaps the less said about the photos' origin, the better. Just look, and let your imagination roam, which is what I have been doing all week as i worked on this image.

I live in Chicago on the 17th floor of what is reffered to as a 'mid-rise' building. Not to everyones' taste, I know, so many people are unnerved by heights. Even I'm put off by my fragile-looking balcony railing. But to those of us that like being up in the air, enjoy a panoramic views, and thrive on the physical presence of the city, there is nothing like high-rise living. Among my circle of acquaintances there is an ongoing discussion about which is preferred in a high-rise view; the city or the lake. Ideally one would have both, but that combination is difficult to come by, and often considerably more expensive. The lake view offers watery nature at it's most abstract and sublime. The city view offer and endless panoramas of the built environment. Both perspectives reflect and react to the ever-changing weather in ways that inspire awe. I myself settled on a city view, and am quite content, but there are times that I'm envious of those that can take in the minimalist, water-centric vistas of Lake Michigan. It strikes me that this photo embodies both of those desires.

New Collage February 22, 2012

I'm thinking of calling it 'Muscle Beach" for no particular reason, that title just came to mind. Not my most productive week art making-wise, but I did get a start on my taxes, so that's something, I guess. This piece is India Ink on paper and it measures 16 x 26 inches untrimmed.

Color Photography Show At Las Manos Gallery

I have three pieces in the new show at Las Manos Gallery in Chicago. The theme of the show is contemporary color photography and includes eight distinct photographers, many of whom teach in the Illinois State University system. Some very strong and smart work. Pictured in the e-vite above is a small collage of mine made using an old photograph I took in Cabrini Green a few years ago. There is a large version in the show too. The show will run at least until the end of the month.

My Statement From the Show

The introduction of new technologies invariably presents new opportunities for the artist. In our culture at this time, many artists immediately jump into the artistic vacuum created by each step forward along our digital evolution. I understand the impulse; the newness alone is seductive and exciting. But it strikes me that this progression is accelerating - I’m certainly having trouble keeping up. So my reaction to the quickening pace of change is to touch base with some early art-making impulses: the hand made and the one of a kind. These collages, still very much influenced by digital culture, show my love of order and pattern, and attest to my preoccupation with architecture and the built urban environment.

New Collage - February 10, 2012

I worked hard this week. The winter is such a good time to get some work accomplished; fewer distractions, not a lot of motivation to leave the house. I took advantage and cranked out a few large, India Ink collages this week. I swear on Thursday I put in ten hours of work. Thankfully I had a book on tape, (Ken Follett - 'Fall of Giants'), and some good movies on TV, (TMC, '31 Days of Oscar'). This piece is large, 38 x 48 inches, and feels like an explosion.

What I Made This Week

Some see Michelle Peterson/Albandoz's influence here. I see the mark of digital photography and specifically jpeg images. The piece is made of two layers of archival mat board, one covered with white acrylic paint, one the original taupe color. I'll talk about me using paint in a later posting. The overall dimensions are 32 x 40 inches.