"52 in 52: A New Journey" September NEWS: Gallery Blu Show and 3rd in the Burg Show!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

January:



January 8, 2011


"52 in 52: A New Journey" Blog Show at

The Paper Lion Gallery, 1217 Hummel Avenue, Lemoyne



YWCA of Carlisle, PA - Featured Artist












Saturday, September 25, 2010

Week 38: "Night Flight"

Week 38: "Night Flight"
"Night Flight" Actual size: 19" (l) by 13" (h)
As many know by now, I am inspired by many things. But most of my inspiration comes from music.  I find that lyrics in a song or the sound of chords conjure emotions and thoughts, which in turn become my muse.  This week is no exception.  This painting was inspired by "Blackbird" originally by the Beatles, yet I was inspired by  Carly Simon's rendition.  Below is a link to her version.

"Take this broken wings and learn to fly, all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to be free"

In this simple lyric I see myself.  Over many years of struggling through life as a broken person, I was unable to be whole within myself, kept waiting to be free.  The freedom I sought was so out of my reach because I was unable to let go of my own wounds.  I clutched for dear life to those things that kept me sick, and damaged, such as addiction and failed relationships.

Over the last 3 years, or what I have been calling my new journey of life, I have come to learn one important thing-to heal I had to learn to let go, or at some point just stay still until I was well.  At times as the lyric says "into the dark, black night" I had to fly blindly into the unknown trusting that as long as I let go everything would be okay.  This to me is faith at its basic level.  Not from "religion" ideals, but pure human faith, this is what this piece means for me.  That to me is true freedom. Flying through the night, blind, but safe and healed.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Week 37: "Whisper of Winter"


Week 37: "Whisper of Winter"
Actual size of this work is 9 inches (h) by 50 inches (l)   Click on the image for larger view
This week's work was painted live while people watched during the "Third in the Burg" Art and local business walk at the Historic Harrisburg Association.  Thank you to all who came out and thank you to all those who heard about "52 in 52" tonight.  
Lately, life has become hectic and I feel as if I am constantly on the go, or heading somewhere to do something.  Whether it be with my job, my art, or personal life I am constantly moving.  Summer is about movement and "going on vacation" or "I'm going to do this".  During this time of year I get stir crazy. For me the autumn weather make me think of respite, a quiet calm.  As soon as the first snow falls and silences the world in the physical, I find rest.  This week's work is a representation of my life and how the movement is waiting for the silence to come.   Maybe I am preparing to hibernate for the winter.  So with my work I wanted to show not just a touch of the forthcoming season, but show a whisper of winter and rest.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Week 36: "Dusk in Remembrance"

Week 36: "Dusk in Remembrance"
Growing up on army bases, for me, there are a few things that I will always remember. In the morning hours I would hear the soldiers running by our window during PT, early morning trumpet calls, and I would hear taps being played while the flag was being retired at 5:00 PM everyday.  The sound of the mournful trumpet being played while the sun dipped below the skyline was something that always moved, and at the same time, haunted me.  

As I sit here painting, the day before September 11th, a day that changed this country forever, I sit and think about all those who we lost on that fateful day; and the countless men and women we have lost fighting across the ocean.  I must always remember those who have come before me, those men and women whom make it possible for me to create freely.  

Dusk lies between the dark and light, between the day and night.  It lies where reality ends and dreams begin, when the sun sets on one life into the next. It is in these moments where peace comes, and for that brief moment, the world and all the destruction and wars, are silent.  

I must state that I am a supporter of the men and women that serve this country, in protecting us from attacks such as that of September 11th, but I am not a supporter of the war.  So this September 11th, while I cannot play the taps to all those whom have fallen, I paint dusk in remembrance of them.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Week 35: "a kiss"

Week 35: "a kiss..."
One of life's simplest gestures.  It's complex and can mean many things.  Whether it be between man and woman, man and man, woman and woman, a kiss is never just black and white.  A kiss, depending on its intent, can be harsh and sharp, or can be soft and smooth.  The one thing I have found is a kiss never leaves all the answers filled in, it expects the two doing the kissing to do that.  Between spouses, loved ones, new friends or a perfect stranger, a simplistic action survives on its complexity.  Is a kiss just a kiss...?