Artist Statement

 

In many of my projects I address personal and collective memory and the passage of time.  I am particularly interested in mundane routines and objects of daily use, as they reference the ephemerality of life, as well as gradual societal change. 

 

A sense of nostalgia also pervades my work.  I am intrigued by the blurred area between what is present and what is absent, as well as a longing for what once was or what will be.  In many of my pieces I address the process of transformation over time.  Hence, historical research plays an important role in my work.  Whether collecting found objects, creating site-specific installations, or simply drawing, I hope to grasp a long-term perspective of time, as well as our desires for what eludes us.

 

Yet I do not relegate my work to nostalgic sentimentality.  The same intimate portrayals that point to the past also pertain to the present.  Many of the individuals or locations with which I work speak to life’s continual change.  So, rather than laboring in the confines of a solitary studio, my studio has become a part of everyday life.  As much as possible I work amidst time’s flow  and

the everyday activities of life itself.  Furthermore, I invite persons typically unassociated with the art world to participate in my projects.  Whether sharing almost-forgotten anecdotes or personal memorabilia, I create relationships that straddle the line between everyday life and the realm of art. 

 

In all of my projects I see the possibility of transcendence wrapped within the everyday. Thus, the high is found in the low, and purity in filth.  Redemption may be most evident when absent. And, within the limits of time, we might catch glimpses of eternity.

 

 

Credits

 

Special thanks to Keith Godwin for web page design, studio assistance, and support, Kelly Godwin for constructive criticism, Billy Burrow for technical mastery, and Caryn Grimstead for studio assistance and support - and the many volunteers, participants and contributors without whom my projects would not be possible.  Muchas gracias.  Que Dios les bendiga.

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