About my artwork:
I create sculptures, installations and make long duration photographs; I call these Light
Drawings. A sculpture could be an element of an installation, I could do Light Drawing with
the installation as my set. It is important that each element stand on its own and there is
synergy, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. I am exploring the realms of
sculpture, installation, time, performance and documentation. My sculptures explore
classic elements and principles of art as well as humanity, technology and common
objects. Most important I develop, push and expand my ideas.
My sculptures are essentially light sandwiched in between objects. I use stone, steel wood
and other materials: John Perrault summed it up nicely in the catalog for Newest Biennial:
Ideas in Glass (1994) when he said, “The sandwiches unite casual form with physicality in
opposition to light.” I call the installations Idea Under Construction. I include finished
sculptures, sculptures which are in process and other details to the physical, conceptual
and theoretical aspects of the installation and; you really do get to see my ideas under
construction. My installations are dependant on the environment in which they are created
in; they are responsive to the time and place in which they exist, on many different levels. I
create a sculptural installation which interprets and interacts with the space it is in through
scale, placement, and color.
If anything can be art then anyone can make art. It is important that some of my work be
intentional and some random. In some shots I design swaths of colored light in contrast to
the stationary setting; in others I let the performers do their own thing. Some of my light
drawing performers are whoever is there or passes by when I want to shoot. I have done
light drawing with gallery assistants, total strangers, and a group of regulars. I am both the
photographer and the performer; my children knew how to click, hold, release and advance
film at an early age. I am inspired and influenced by conceptual artists particularly Marcel
Duchamp, Dennis Oppenheim, Jackson Pollack and Fred Tschida. Fred is a professor of
glass and light at Alfred University whom I studied under as student. I created my first light
drawings at Alfred with Fred. I also enjoy the work of Eric Staller, another light drawing
artist.
For my latest work I set up an installation, do light drawings and show prints as part of the
show. I did this for the first time with some success this past January at Art Upstairs in
Phoenicia; I shot some light drawings at the setup and showed 3 as part of the show. At
“Time Meets Space” in Kingston, NY Slides were projected at the opening and 3 30” x 40”
banners of light drawings were displayed. For my Islip show I did light drawing with the
museum staff the first day as we were unloading my truck. More were created as the
installation progressed with other artists, museum staff and even visitors who stopped by
between shows. A dozen or so 8” x 10” prints were exhibited as part of the show.
My art is an exploration of my ideas; a byproduct of my creative activity. It has roots in
tradition and looks to the future at the same time. I continue to push my overt and covert
conceptual and technological limits. I constantly fine tune my work as well as look for
opportunities to reinvent myself. You should see my dumpster.
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