Studio in Jefferson, NY and me on the beach in North Truro, photos courtesy of Alan Herman (alanhermanphotography.com and IG @alan.herman).

THOUGHTS

I believe in chance and chaos, in letting abstract images emerge through the physical process of painting that produces various emotions, as the intensification of the work develops, avoiding the expression of an literal emotion, or references to actual things in the world. Remaining detached from conscious definition creates a space where a viewer can experience their own emotions through my work. The visual results I achieve give me a sense of where I am, what window I’m looking through and what might be over there, away from me, but important to connect with. 

The physicality of my work clearly and intentionally lets me simultaneously work on making a painting and creating an object. The inherent nature of how I make my work and the materials I depend on (primarily discarded corrugate boxes as well as other found material) result in pieces that at times move away from the wall while remaining fixed to it and always have some aspect that resists any sense of machine-like regularity. This helps me break away from making an image on a conventional surface toward the duality of making an object that is also a painting and vice versa.

RECENT ACTIVITIES

NYFA/NYSCA Artist Fellowship Program
I have been selected as a Finalist in NYFA/NYSCA’s 2023 Printmaking/Drawing/Book Arts category. I submitted work from the Spark Drawings. See the complete NYSCA/NYFA category list here.

NYSCA Artist Support Grant - The Maintenance Project
I’ve been awarded a NYSCA Artist Support grant for The Maintenance Project that will be completed in 2024. My project is based on images and diagrams found in historical farm machinery manuals from the 1940s and ‘50s. From this material, I’m assembling source books, making drawings, developing an exhibit and creating a short film. This project will be completed with the support of The West Kortright Centre, a regional performance, exhibition and community arts center in Delaware County, NY.

NYFA Keeping NYS Creating Award
In 2020 I was awarded a NYFA grant to continue work interrupted by the Covid pandemic.

RESIDENCIES AND NOMINATIONS

St. Gaudens Fellowship: In 2022 I was nominated for a St. Gaudens fellowship.

Ellis-Beauregard Foundation: In April of 2022, I was a painting resident at the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation in Rockland, Maine.

Vermont Studio Center: In March of 2018 I was a painting resident at The Vermont Studio Center.

Anderson Ranch: In 2019 I was awarded a ten-week residency at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Village, CO. While there, I focused on painting, and had the opportunity to work in other studios. I made a collection of laser-cut stencils using linear Illustrator files to use as tools in my paintings and also produced a series of monoprints.