About the Work
The common themes in my work are an examination of the human experience, a love of and reverence for nature, and my wonder and awe at God’s creation.
Outside the direct observations of natural objects that may require a technical certainty and tightness to them, I want my work to bear my mark of physicality and emotion. That could take the form of tooled texture on a sculpture, my own hand’s imprint or smear, or the “building” of a form or figure by drawing with swirling, open lines.
I desire that the work demonstrates a high level of craftsmanship and skill, yet is accessible and “common” in its message. I long to make connections through my work by sharing wonder and awe, or at times doubt and pain, in such a way as to draw the viewer in to say, “I’ve felt that, too”.
What is ART4GOOD?
Bio
I always knew that art would play a significant role in my life. As a youngster I was constantly drawing, and decided early on that I would be an artist. I pushed the art in high school, but also became passionate about competitive swimming. Although I decided to study art at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, I confess that I chose Hamline because of its swim program. I “lucked into” an outstanding art faculty, studying art history, drawing and printmaking, and sculpture. It was under the guidance of figurative sculptor Michael Price that I decided to pursue a graduate degree in sculpture. That landed me in Baltimore, Maryland and the Rinehart School of Sculpture at the Maryland Institute. After receiving my M.F.A., I continued to create sculpture, looking for public commissions and exhibits, but all the while coaching swimming to pay the rent.
Coaching took on a greater role over time, and I created an adult team, as well as coaching young swimmers. Eventually I ended up at one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools as its aquatics director and head coach. I continued to make sculptures and draw, and kept a studio, but the “dream” of being a working artist was put on the back burner, if not in the freezer. With marriage, a child, and two moves, the dream was safely preserved while I also began to pursue a teaching career.
With yet another move in 2015 (this time to Ghana), and upon return, into an even deeper commitment to coaching and teaching, I noticed some cracks in this structured life that shone some light on my authentic, creative self. The covid shutdown gave me just enough time and space to work in earnest again, and thus the thaw gradually began. After nearly four decades of keeping the dream stashed, and experiencing a “what am I waiting for?” epiphany, I asserted that it was time to live into what is so special and fulfilling about creating art.
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.”
― Martha Graham
For years I have driven a vehicle with the vanity plate ART4GOOD. The vague concept has been to create a website that highlights my artwork, and possibly that of others, that carry a strong message toward social justice and environmental issues through art.
This may take the form of galleries that feature other artist’s work that I admire and find relevant. It could also become a forum to discuss art’s place in society and how artistic expression through the visual arts can heighten awareness and hopefully spark action. It could be a collection of organizations or collectives that do this type of work
I might also shine a spotlight on arts organizations that serve both artists and communities through the visual arts. In time, we might, as a collective, exhibit and create events to raise funds for causes through thought-provoking, meaningful art. We might also direct some of the profit from the sale of our works to organizations that raise awareness and do good work in the world.
For now, I want to see where this developing concept leads. I feel fortunate, with my kick-off exhibit at NoRa Café in Raleigh NC in autumn of 2024, to have generated a healthy number of sales, a curious and eager following, and an opportunity to make donations for Hurricane Helene relief in western North Carolina. This is just the beginning of what I envision my influence can be as an individual artist, and through this website. Continue to follow to see where this leads in the coming months and years!