"Virtual Reality" at the University of Saint Francis

"Virtual Reality"

at John P Weatherhead Gallery and Goldfish Gallery at the University of Saint Francis

Fort Wayne, Indiana

September 9 through October 12, 2017
Opening Presidential Gala on Saturday September 9 from 6-9pm

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Artist Statement

These charcoal drawings on plywood are part of a series concentrating on large-scale representation of contemporary people. They are all members of the arts community both in Knoxville and Nashville, and I show them unaware of my presence as they attend exhibit receptions. Humans give off subtle clues as to the culture and social groupings they inhabit. They wander around in various stages of interaction or contemplation. The modular nature of flat drawings in a three-dimensional structure allows me to arrange them in an endless variety of conceptual and social environments. The return of the drawings to a gallery environment is the final stage in this virtual reality play.

John P. Weatherhead Gallery

Looking towards Goldfish Gallery

Goldfish Gallery contained altars, plus three full size plywood drawings.

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Artist Statement

Where does mythology originate? Who gets to define and invent it? How much of our older Western Mythology is relevant now, and how would it be updated?

I’m using Byzantine decoration, Faberge egg bling, Medieval religious altar construction, and 21^st century design standards to create secular cultural altars dedicated to who we are, where we’ve come from, and what we obsess about.

My approach is purely quotidian, from the themes to the materials used. Theater stages and urban streets are blinged-out with rhinestones and acrylic pellets used in the floral industry. Halos are made from both costume jewelry earrings and gold leaf.

My most recent altars are informed almost entirely by the mixed group of actors and burlesque performers that regularly model for the arts community where I live.