The pieces are starting to come together, all rooted in the idea of identifying humans more closely with the environment and species that need our custodial attention to preserve their co-existence on earth. Below is an image of “Dace Dance” 26” tall a hybrid human swimming with the tiny endangered red-sided dace fish.
It's official, I will have an exhibition of my work in September 5-12, 2024 at the Dupont Rail Gallery
Very pleased to announce that September 5-12, 2024 at the Dupont Rail Gallery Toronto Ontario I will have an exhibition of my work, including many new and some older pieces.
This is an unfired piece in process, part human part plant/environment made of earth of the earth
'Ceramic Figures' new as menu item on my website
I now have a few pieces completed so figure I can add a new menu item on the website. I hope to be adding on to this as I create work for an exhibition, details yet to be finalized.
This is an image of Fiametta, inspired by the summer of forest fires, is singed but there is regeneration on the log she is leaning on ( not visible in this image) , a metaphor for the resilience of nature. This is not to say we care for and protect aren’t needed, just that there is hope if we proceed thoughtfully.
I have a second figure on the go, enjoying the challenges of the medium and the chance to learn about a whole other way of approaching my art.
Ceramic Busts
Ceramic Busts, with human and plant-like atributes, an old theme for me and a new media. Here are four of the ‘forest vunerables’ wearing earth suits and plant hair…
A recent commission installed “slip/shift ” measure approx. 10.3 x 4 feet. made up of 5 painted wooden panels with 5 figures suspended over the central panel. An honour, a pleasure and a challenge to work on this for a stunning architectural living space. some photos from the installation process.
Palmerston poet
A commission related to the “runby” series I worked on, been past this many times , my preferred mood was late afternoon… ‘Palmerston Poet’ oil on cradle board
Finished Mural project...
“Don’t Mess With The Don” Charity initiator Lawrence Warriner, selected me to paint a mural in the side of their 22 x 8 foot train container using the Don Valley Park System as my topic. This charity fosters stewardship of the park including weekend clean-ups that result in removing literally tons of garbage from the valley, native plant restoration among other activities.
Don at dawn 8 x 22ft ( 2.4m x 6.7m) Acrylic on metal hard finish
Inked subway line
Some TTC Toronto subway drawings I’ve been doing in my sketchbooks. The challenge is to try to draw in a jiggly moving subway, covertly, with your subjects shifting and/or leaving… keeps it interesting! … (see ‘ink drawings’ on the menu to see more)
inked subway line
Ceiling mural... Heron nesting, Humber
run trough the city , the city through us
Completed this recently
30”x60” oil on canvas
Performance at Niagara Night of Art
I was given live freeform music to paint with , I had had the chance to listen to some samples of the music and got an urban relaxed jazzy hit off of it… so that idea percolated with me. we were on stage about 35 minutes, so I had to work fast! It was a fun and challenging performance for me!
Niagra Night of Art Perfprmance painting...
Sept 20, Main stage At the Niagara Falls History Museum I will be working on a multi- faceted piece over 45 minutes to music created by 2 musicians.
Don't want to describe too much to keep the element of surprise as part of the action...
There will be paint & music and ... surprise!
entangled
Looking forward to our show together! we will not be present for the beginning of the show, but back on Aug 18th at 2pm, when Sylvia and I will give short artist talks. The top image is by SJ Whitton , called "Shamhat's Garden" , the bottom Image is a "runby" installation shot.
I start with an uncertain plan....
Don't know if this will go anywhere, but I start with an uncertain plan, an intentionally half baked idea from my sketchbook and see where the process leads...
running thots
Running seems a useful metaphor for many things I believe about the nature of the physical world and our relationship to it.
First existence is wrapped up with movement, of planets, of air, of atoms etc. With this movement also comes the exchange of molecules; for example, from our skin and when we breathe. This exchange interweaves us with our surroundings, our element.
Every simple or complex collection of molecules shares and is affected by movement through time. The phrase "slipping glimpser ", coined from painter William de Kooning, comes to mind. As observers slipping and glimpsing, seeing as we move and moving as we see, sliding through time and space as everything else slips and slides past and through our semi-permeable membranes and minds.
Current exhibition: Galerie Lilian Andree, Reihen Switzerland / May 6 - July 1
This series of "runby" paintings developed as a result of combining two of my passions, painting and running...
'runby' cut-out on the wall
Fun to see one of the 'runby' cut-outs in a home setting, this time without any of the 'runby' glimpses hanging around it. I think the warm grey wall excites the colour of the wood and adds a richness to the piece that is quite different than on a white wall..
So many Prince's Gates...
I enjoy painting the Prince's Gates, have for years... the drama the colour, the structure... the sky and the city mixing into the architecture. The pale structure changes so much with available lighting and weather... finally the colour play. It is often a focal point on the long lake runs....
meanwhile, ongoing in the background...
Continue in work on the 'Molecular Suite', knowing that all the elements that create our physical world were born in dying stars and that as we move through the air the air moves through us is an inspiring thought.