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Past Due
After a long hiatus from creating fine art, I eagerly jumped back in to construct a series of large-scale collages over the course of a couple of days. The intent was to submit something to a local Art Museum competition that a colleague alerted me to several weeks back. Hastily completing, carefully framing, and photographing the work, I logged on to the museum’s site to enter my favorite, only to realize I missed the deadline by six hours. Aargh!
The exercise reminded me of how difficult it can be to start back into creating original art after an absence. As a full-time designer, the focus is often on visualizing literally with conformity and rigidness, whereas loosening up and conceptually “going with the flow” work better for generating art. So I present to you one of the pieces in the series titled “Past Due” named in honor of missing the entry deadline, and also realizing how much I’ve missed the rewarding aspect of creating things from the heart with my hands.
Seven Virtues
Ciclismo
A peloton of digital collages crafted to celebrate the cycling archetypes found gracefully pedaling down the roadways around the world.
Glitch
Although it is nearly impossible to duplicate computer glitches I have been the proud creator (or the recipient) of such beautiful forms of visual representation through miscommunication during the transcoding of data on my home and work iMacs. Shown above are an array of spontaneous misfires interpreted from software application crashes over the course of one day.
I was also able to harvest an image produced from a spontaneous computing crash and turn it into a formal one-of-a-kind rug design. Broken code in the form of complex line art appears organic and traditional from a distance but strikingly digitized upon closer inspection. Not knowing what the future will bring, I look forward to the next spontaneous malfunction that produces an unexpected composition so that I can once again put it to good use.
The Design of Politics
I am both honored and proud to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Bill Grant on his political journey. Having developed campaign graphics for his election into Canton City Council in 2013 and then a successful re-election in 2017, the most recent branding played a small role in him winning the mayoral race by 50 points and becoming only the third openly LGBTQ mayor in Georgia. I look forward to watching Bill steward development for one of the "Coolest Small Towns in America.”
Shinrin-Yoku. from the Japanese culture, means "taking in the forest" or "forest bathing." It was developed in the 1980’s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine.
Shinrin-Yoku
My mother, whose birthday would have been today, loved growing flowers. A self-taught hobby and passion that she became really, really good at. I remember as a child, complete strangers would stop by and ask her if they could have a tour around the yard. My dad would document them throughout the seasons with his modest camera. We would tease him because he would take more pictures of the flowers than the family. I would roll my eyes every time we would come back from the pharmacy with more flower prints.
Fast forward some forty years later. I recently came across a beautiful garden with a stunning variety of amazing bonsai. I felt the need to try my hand at photographing these treasures. The collection is somewhat hidden, located at the Smith-Gilbert Gardens only fifteen minute away. The garden director, Ann Parsons, graciously gave special access to shoot the photos. It took two several hours over the course of two days in unfavorable 90-degree heat this summer, and the help of my wife Krissi and a colleague, Patrick Addy, to get the snaps. I think mom would have liked this place. My Shinrin-Yoku.
Art for Life Chicago
I am honored to be participating in this year's Art for Life, a signature event of DIFFA/Chicago – the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. Art for Life is a juried art exhibit and auction showcasing the talent of the art world to benefit those living with and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Through donated works from established and emerging artists – selected by a jury of experts – the event provides an opportunity to invest in culture and raise vital funds to help those most impacted by the virus.
The distinguished Art for Life Chicago 2019 jurors are Richard Bentham, Smithsonian Institution; Jef Bourgeau, Museum of New Art Detroit; Sergio Gomez, 33 Contemporary Gallery; Jessica Hopkins, Museum of New Art Detroit; Matthew Lew, Matthew Lew Fine Art; and Cameron McEwen, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
Art for Life Chicago is built on a belief in the power of change through creativity and community, and that the art world can help lead the way to a generation free of HIV/AIDS. Special thanks to my colleague RIchard Cassis and Roan and Black Gallery for their support and contributions.
Memory Box Series
Evocative mixed-media collages recognizing the priceless moments of recollection in those suffering from cognitive decline due to dementia. The set is an homage to my uncle, artist and mentor who passed away from Alzheimer's in 2018.
The work is part of a group show featuring artists with Southern roots, on display at Roan & Black Gallery beginning August 10th through September 2nd, 2019 in Saugatuck, Michigan.
Rock Solid
Having recently finished one of our firm's largest projects of the year, I have come to realize the immense power relationships can have on the desired outcome of detailed design experiences. The choreography of finding like-minded passionate people, engaging them and developing trust on the fly happens while the overall creative vision speeds through a client obstacle course of new and unforeseen challenges. The process is all very human with layers of emotional twists. But the most rewarding and awe-inspiring feeling is to witness others who I had not even worked with before going above and beyond the script to devote to the success. I have renewed appreciation for the synergy involved in collaboration and look forward to the next opportunity to grow with an expanding circle of contributors.
Photo: Guy Welch
Jumping Into 2019
My great boss, friend, and mentor, Bill Grant gifted me a speed rope over the holidays. The rope is used for aerobic training to perform double unders, an exercise that can be used as the perfect metaphor for life.
A double under is similar to normal skipping, except you must pass the rope under your feet twice for every single jump. Sounds and looks simple enough until you try it for the first time. As in life, there are many variables that go into smoothly achieving this conditioning exercise.
The jump rope is a tool much like our body. It comes in many variations. Handle style, cable thickness, weight and length of the rope all contribute to optimized performance. In life, we are born with varying body builds and a range of mental fortitude that allows us to overcome challenges.
Using the arms and legs in sync with each other is critical to accomplishing consecutive double unders. A pace is maintained through proper posture, the height of the jump, position and speed of the wrists. All of these synchronized together contribute to overall harmony and success. In life, we move at our own pace, pursuing goals and seeking aspirations that drive lifestyle. The mix of living with your soul mate, raising families and establishing work/life balance can dictate pace, happiness, and harmony.
Depending on the intensity of the workout, how the body feels/reacts and where the double unders are performed within a workout can impact success on any given day. Although a few rotations can be accomplished with determination, consistency requires focus and precise habit. We are all born with specific natural skills and abilities. Our capacity to recognize these traits and hone them propels us forward with confidence, success, and grace in life. I can't wait to use the new speed rope and look forward to jumping into 2019 with a renewed focus to meet the challenges and create successful accomplishments.
Uncle John was enamored of all things cinema and theatre. Pictured here, intently watching Buster Keaton's "Seven Chances" (1925) before our wedding. Canton Theatre, Canton Georgia, 2011.
Recollections of My Uncle
West Michigan always felt so far away when I was little. During my childhood, my uncle lived on the opposite side of the state with his family. We only saw each other once, maybe twice a year. The visits were always short but full of joy and entertainment with my uncle at the center of attention. His thunderous laugh was distinctive and genuine. My mother and her big brother had a special bond and I could see this at these rare gatherings even at a young age. Although the two were very different, they had a gift for using their hands to create beautiful things. My mother loved to plant flowers and was a talented green thumb; my uncle was a historian and master of the arts who graduated from Cranbrook Academy of Art and the University of Michigan. As an introverted child, this connection affected me greatly in that he fostered and mentored many ideas for expressing myself creatively. I remember him first teaching me about performers such as Marcel Marceau and giving me a book on how to juggle for my 14th birthday. We talked about many artists and types of art, and he introduced me to a broad range of work from Eames to Haring. These influences impacted me to later dabble in graffiti and eventually try my hand as a street performer in Chicago, entertaining the crowds on Michigan Avenue. I grew to associate my Uncle and the west side of Michigan as the "creative hub" and wanted more.
I convinced my parents to let me leave home and attend Western Michigan University where I received a degree in Graphic Design. After that, I moved to Chicago and saw even less of the family. Occasionally my uncle, who taught art at Muskegon Community College, would bring his class over to visit the Art Institute of Chicago. He would always make it a part of the itinerary to meet up at a restaurant in Greektown where we would make the most of our time before he headed back home. Years went by and I moved even further away from the family. I saw and heard less from Uncle except for an occasional prized care package of art books or craft supplies with a heartwarming note. His handwriting was a pristine architectural block print even well into his 80’s.
Like most artists and designers, Uncle was an avid collector. Among his prized agglomerations were El Día de los Muertos skeletons, Mickey Mouse statues, vintage halloween masks and a robust tin-type robot collection. He was against firearms and would carefully remove any guns from the robots. He was deeply fascinated with Asian culture and dabbled in Buddhism. He was able to make a trip to Japan in retirement which influenced his art in later life. The family house in Twin Lakes was outfitted in mid-century modern furniture most of which was procured from various outlet stores and thrift shops. He loved the hunt of thrift diving.
In 2015, I participated in a group art show in Saugatuck, just south of where Uncle lived. I invited him and the family to the opening. I was so nervous at what he would think or say about the work. I had so many scenarios running through my head. This was the man idolized since childhood – how would the art critique and long-term professor of the arts react? His strong voice was relatively soft on feedback as he looked on. We ended in front of the largest piece, an image transfer of an astronaut. He paused, collected his thoughts, and proclaimed that the astronaut looked much like me. I was confused and asked for more. He said, “I see confidence and accomplishment in the posture, and that is who and where you are today.” His words brought back a wave of emotion knowing that he was acknowledging how far I had come from the young introverted kid I once was.
Holga
I recently came across an old roll of Holga images I took in North Georgia and Watch Hill, RI. It was the first time trying the camera and I did not load or advance the roll properly which subsequently produced an interesting collage effect.
The Blue Ridge, Georgia images were taken on a visit to see a Joe, a Silverback gorilla at a one-of-a-kind animal haven. The sanctuary looks very much like a Jurassic Park set with 15-foot concrete walls and electric fences. Joe was born in 1963 in Cameroon and spent time in Germany along with many zoos around the U.S. Getting up close to feed a SIlverback was such a moving experience. Joe passed away in July of 2012.
The other images were taken on a business trip to Rhode Island. Our team was scouting a luxury resort for an upcoming photoshoot. The seaside hotel owned a yacht that was used for entertaining important guests. I was able to get a few quick snaps in before sunset.
“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It’s a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life’s realities.” Dr. Seuss
Contemporary Collage
These illustrations were proposed as a branding element for a high-end, International furniture company. The sketches incorporate product renderings created by Farm in Chicago juxtaposed with light and shadow images to highlight exquisite craft and manufacturing capabilities while alluding to architectural space.
Box Series
Tandem Illustrations
