Finally, dawn. The birth of the new day. Ashes from the last fire had been stamped out. Change was inevitable, but it was a long, long night.
Now was the time for something new. Something that had been simmering under the surface for eons. Like a moth from a caterpillar.
The Gray Wolf. Gray wolves are social animals, living and hunting in packs of 2-12. The pack members exhibit close relationships and communicate with each other with a range of sounds including barks, whines, growls, and howls.
For one of my dedications to the gray wolf, check out this week’s episode of Drawing on Instinct:
Drawing On Instinct: Wolf’s Bane Read More »
Holy cow, what a night. Thank you everyone friends and strangers alike that came out to the art show and stopped by room. Words are not going to do it justice, but suffice to say my hard work paid off. My installation received so many wonderful comments and I completely sold out of all the Wolf City Resident paintings. The room was packed from 7:00 p.m. – 12 a.m. I, myself, had to step out of the room so people could get in. At one point, Michael Stipe was engaged with the wolf head. My amazing wife, Marie is a real trooper and the best helper, supporter and critic (which I need!) I’ll be posting photos and such as soon as I can get a quick nap in.
Wolf City Residents Have Moved Out Read More »
Tomorrow is the big day and I’m working around the clock to finish construction on my installation, “Wolf City”, for the annual Bulldog Inn Art Show. The majority of it is done with just a few little bits left to do. I’m sanding, painting, zip-tying, folding, recording, editing, compiling, engineering, measuring, cutting, nailing and gluing – not necessarily in that order. I’ll be serving wine and refreshments for those in attendance. Come on out for the Wolf City experience!
In about a week I’ll be presenting my installation, “Wolf City”, at the annual Bulldog Inn Art Show here in Athens. It’s a pop-up show for one night only at a local dive motel. Each artist gets a room to do whatever they want, i.e., installation, performance, music, video, whatever. I’m thrilled to be a part of it and this year’s show is sure to be a blast with artists from all over and as far away as Japan!
“Wolf City” is an extension of my affinity and concern for the well-being of wolves, both wild and domestic. I paint a lot of wolves in general and I get my inspiration from our own domestic cousins. The installation addresses the controversy regarding wolf populations and reintroduction. Humans “produce” them and “package” them up to ship them back and forth much like products that are part of the machine. All the while, sanctioned wolf hunts in some of these parts of the country attempt to cull them in areas they are unwanted. I am pro-wolf all the way and am a proponent for the reintroduction programs that are in place in this country. The reintroduction programs are in place because of the near eradication of wolves in North America in the early 20th century. Wolves are apex predators and a vital part of the ecosystem. In the wild, wolves self control their populations by halting mating if the food sources (prey population) are low that particular season. When prey is plenty, wolves (as do most predators) go for the young, sick or elderly. While this may seem cruel, one of the benefits is that this will ensure the strongest will survive, thus making a stronger and healthier herd (and vice versa).
I hope you can make it out to the show next Wednesday, March 25th from 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. To join, see the Facebook event here!
below:
Part of “Wolf City” (in progress)
paper maché, fiberglass, wood, acrylic latex, resin
The Residents of Wolf City Read More »
Not a true throwback Thursday as I did these just yesterday. However, my approach is one I used years ago in my work. Impasto is name of the technique in question. It has a very expressive and gestural nature where color and texture become primary and form becomes secondary. I love the energy and have been debating bringing this into my current work. Here are some wolves I did yesterday:
Around here in the Athens, GA area it looks as though winter has finally pulled up a chair and is going to stay a while. I just got back from a brisk walk with our dog Mr. Furley (named after Don Knotts’ character on Three’s Company) I’ve been doing this ritual for just under a month. It gives me time to ponder and meditate. It’s a great time for me to take mental notes, go over ideas in my head and even catch some wildlife. Of course, Mr. Furley doesn’t seem to mind either. The benefits of even a simple walk are pretty tremendous. As I spend hours at a time at the easel or hunched over at the coffee table in our living room, my back has been signaling to me, “Hey jerk! Get out and get some movement!” Many a time I have woken up with a crick in my back or neck, and went for a 30 min walk that helped work it out. Physical benefits to me and Mr. Furley aside, there’s a special bond that is sealed when you walk your dog on a regular basis. Here’s a great article on it: http://animalfoundation.com/the-importance-of-walking-your-dog/
Gearing up for my solo show at Heirloom, I’ve been focusing on wolves and otters as of late. I’m still brainstorming ideas for what to call the show. Some of my pieces are titled using Latin names of the animal or species that I painted. I think this adds the scientific side of nature to the piece. It also bridges the gap between nature and technology. Through human curiosity, invention and necessity, man has dissected animals both metaphorically and literally to distinguish a whole filing system for nature. Very fascinating! So I think I’ll continue toying around with Latin names for the title of the show. Stay tuned, the opening reception is to be determined!
