Desire vs Responsibility

This piece was built from hundreds of layers of bamboo laminated together.  Each little square is a separate piece of bamboo.  All the bamboo could have been grown in a few years, instead of the 50+ years it would have taken to grow a tree this big.  The insets are burls pulled from a local burn pile.  The slab is wood that was salvaged from a drained millpond here in Springfield.  The blue coloring is mineral deposits built up over the last 50 years, while the log was submerged.  Even the steel tubing and plate is reclaimed from demolition of an old building.  Making something visually interesting (I hope) out of cast away materials was an interesting exercise.

Conceptually this piece was based on the struggle between my own personal selfish desires and my responsibilities.  As my desires pulled one way the responsibility of family, work, etc. pulled another.  The burls, which are basically the wound of a tree, represent the damage this struggle can cause.  Through this struggle I find myself and therefore the piece, in a delicately balanced position.

Unglazed Vegan Doughnut

Low Fire Clay
 This piece was all about realistic modeling. (Well that and a bit of commentary on the highly trendy organic cuisine here in Eugene). As I was waiting in line at the coffee shop with this piece in one hand and a cup of Joe in the other, the cashier tried to charge me for the doughnut, thinking it was from their pastry selection.  Regardless of what people in the gallery said, I will view this piece as a successful example of verisimilitude if nothing else.

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Bound

Aluminum, Resin, Bronze

This piece was the second in a series of conceptual self portraits I did.  There was a time in my life that I was uber-religious.  At the time, religion basically boiled down to a list of things not to do.  Which, in my opinion, was missing the whole point.  This piece represents that  specific moment of transformed perception in which I moved from pre adolescent naivety to a more mature self critical way of thinking. This piece is about 6 feet tall.

Escapism

Hand hammered steel, kiln formed glass and aluminum

This piece was part of my conceptual self portrait series.  Inspired by my childhood, this piece references the place in my imagination I spent a lot of my time .  Unfortunately I didn't grow up studying Monet or Henry Moore, but reading comic books and watching terrible science fiction movies.   When I daydreamed, I was off flying through space meeting strange aliens and exploring bizarre worlds.  As an adult there are times I envy that ability to retreat into my imagination.

Desire vs Responsibility

Laminated Bamboo, Fir, Maple Burl, Steel
This piece is currently on display in the LCC Gallery. 

Cocktail

Snapshots of my latest Guerilla Install (20' X 15').  Its Installed in building 10 of Lane Community College.