Shutter Release

The Francesca Woodman exhibit at SFMOMA is one of the most engaging and honest photography exhibits I have ever seen. Soon to be seen at the Guggenheim.

You Are The Art

With a frame scribed on the wall at SFMOMA, the passerby becomes the art.

Four Stories

Four stories, up over head, at SFMOMA.

Break For Sculpture

This work entitled "Throwback", by Tony Smith, is on display at SFMOMA.

Want to counter the mayhem and horror? Create that which is beautiful, and elevate our world.

For Publication

I had the good fortune to photograph one of the Pascal Calculators, a work of true genius and inspiration by Blaise Pascal, dating back to the mid 17th century. Yes, it was a bit nerve racking to examine, handle, and stage the object, being truly priceless, but exciting and fun, all at the same time. Two of my photos appear in the Museum Henri-Lecoq publication, "Les Machines Arithmetiques De Blaise Pascal." The book cover image appears at top.

The Art of Collaboration

Dr. Yanan Ju, at work in the studio.

Intermission

An old sketch, freshened up with a bit of digital magic.

That Which Is Soft, That Which Is Hard

The new, with the old. In the flow. In harmony.

Beauty Found

The beauty of Acadia, at our feet.

Memory in Pigment

I had reason to go through some old images, looking for some work related photo, and came across this painting that I had done some years ago. It's one those works that I can hardly remember doing. Strange really, and yet strangely appealing on account of its honesty.

There is some sadness to it as well, some wrenching thing that the world can do to a person sometimes, drawing you into some strange state or place, even temporarily, almost like an image in a mirror you might behold, in passing, in a dream.

Creative Expression

Yes, that really is satisfying.

Footsteps

My old stomping grounds, at the foot of the Chelsea, Massachusetts side of the Mystic/Tobin Bridge. With sea breeze in the air, it was a quiet area, with the bustle of Boston, right, over, there.

Night Vortex

My latest solo work, and I have never had to say that before, is shown above. This represents a new direction for me. I do enjoy having this work on my wall. A friend told me that every room should have something black in it. Yes, I think that could be true.

Et al

The paintings above represent the collaborative efforts of Dr. Ju and me, to date. Most of the pieces have yet to be signed, which should complete the works. It has been quite an adventure so far, and great fun. The overriding theme of these works is cross cultural exploration, and I feel we are just getting started.

Stage Is Set

I am close to the end of phase one for this work, "My Father Was In Shanghai, 1937." Exploring my father's time in war torn Shanghai in 1937, I am as excited about this piece as anything I have ever worked on.

Who knows what I will see as I look into this world, and behold the reflection.

I can feel his courage.

Spoonful

It is proving nearly impossible to capture a suitable photo of a painting in my studio these days. I don't have the room to set up the tungsten lights and compose a decent shot. That has stopped me from posting new work. I can't let that stop me any longer. Above is a detail of one of my earliest completed works in collaberation with Dr. Ju. The working title is "Codes of Destiny." This image is taken with available light, using my least capable camera.

Reaching Into The Corners

There has been a whole lot of creative activity going on, weaving the intercultural pursuits of two artists, reaching into the corners and holding fast the result, if only for a moment.

East and West

Well, it's been quite a busy time lately, what with battling the elements, and work, but also, creatively, with a whole new set of paintings in the works. Notably, I have been working regularly with Dr. Ju, collaborating on a series of cross cultural explorations. More on that later.

Shown above is our first foray into the great unknown. The working title is "Earth and Heaven." We have several other works completed, or nearly so, some just needing signing.

I believe this exploration has opened up new possibilities for each of us, Dr. Ju and I.

That's Him

The man has a big job.

All Alone in this World

The lone Chinese street sweeper. She is all alone to do her work at the center of the intersection.

Bless her.

Break for Sculpture

An engaging Louise Nevelson piece. To me, this one seems to move. There is no mistaking her work. When you see a Louise Nevelson, you know it, this one displayed at MoMA.

Friends for the Long Haul

Once you get away from creating a piece that is all oil paint, or all acrylic, creating a work that is stable with respect to archival concerns is, well, complicated.

I am working on a series involving collage, and the number of materials mounting up the the piece is boggling. Starting with canvas, then gesso, rice paper, newspaper, gell adhesives, fixatives, liquin, oil paint, and finally, Chinese calligraphy ink. The components of many of these materials are themselves complex.

Having them all make friends, and all in the right sequence and correct amount of set time, that is the task at hand.

How long the work will last, well, no one can know.

What You See is What You Get

How about a bright abstraction in yellow and red-orange to brighten our day? Works for me.

Sketch of the Day

My coworker, John M., sketched on the beloved Magnadoodle, and now immortalized in the cyber world.

What's in a Name?

In this case, the crossroads of people's lives, past and present, for better or for worse.

Camera Loves Them

I find goats to be especially photogenic, particularly, Nubian goats.

Art Experience

Experimenting, layering, learning, trying, engaging ,committing, and, it's all fun.

Syncretism

Creatively, I am in a whole new place.

Impromptu Self Portrait

Extemporaneous, improvisatory, spur of the moment, self portrait.

Dynamic Sign in the Sky

The beautiful precursor to high winds, pelting rain, flooding, and marble sized hail.

Texting

On new ground, the past in hand.

Iteration

Adjacent and now, volume of energy flows up, the return and response, that which reaches, touches, and is touched, in perfect repose.

Sequence

Forethought of space and essence the terminal of what and then.

Yes, Carl Sandburg was quite right in stating that what is poetry can not be described.

Yeah, That's Her

Well, I am painting again, with the usual mix of satisfaction and frustration. But what is to stop me from having some fun with photo illustrations between brushstrokes?

New New New

New art studio. New type of painting for me. Possible new series. Yeah, I'm excited!

Atelier, 2nd Floor

After one too many flood events in my home art studio (yes, basement level), I have combined my art studio with my design studio/office, located on higher ground. The last two days, I have started to paint again, and it feels great. It is a whole new environment in many ways. I feel renewed.

That's me, covering a painting from 2007 with a fresh layer of gesso. I am excited to see what comes next.