NOMISMA -- JUNE 18, 2009
"Nomisma" (June 18, 2009). IIllusion and illumination are written in Latin on a coin inspired by the Dark Age Carolingian Reign. The powers that have controlled money and the full nature of its uses are being unveiled. The cross, used on this coin, morphed into Christian symbology but originated in paganism. The four corners were originally indices of the four directions and only later used in European coinage to depict the four Stations of the Cross.
Live Free or Die-Nomisma 2 (July 4, 2009)
This painting was inspired by coins of the early American colonies that depicted trees (aspen, birch, pine and scrub oak) and the Fleur-de-lis of the French Republic. Early colonial attempts to mint currency were thwarted by England, who wanted control and dependence. The illegality of colonial currency and the resultant economic dependency and recession/depressions helped cause the American Revolution. If it weren’t for loans and shipments of gold by the French Republic to support our forces (that equaled half of what it cost Britain to fight the war), we could have lost. The Fleur-de-lis was meaningful to several ancient cultures including Egypt, where it represented the heart and tongue of the Sun God Ra.
Wampum-Nomisma 3 (8/8/09)
"Native Americans used wampum—beads made out of clamshells—as a commemorative symbol to solidify the singing of an agreement or the securing of a contract. Europeans ordained that wampum could be used as currency. Native Americans began to accept the European strands for trade of beaver skins and the like. Eventually the British overproduced (counterfeited) these once spiritual symbols, thereby obtaining goods for less and eventually destroying Native American economies. (The British also counterfeited the American “Continentals”—the first U.S. bill—to hurt the Colonial American economy during the Revolution). This painting was begun in Los Angeles and completed in Portland.
NOISE POLLUTION IN WEHO ONE -- MAY 2009
This is first in a series of paintings created to help me cope with noise pollution in my former West Hollywood apartment. My cat, Spunky, and I are wearing construction ear protectors. In the background are common sounds: beeping trucks, a pile driver, a jack hammer, a fire engine, a leaf blower, and a barking dog.
NOISE POLLUTION IN WEHO TWO -- MAY 2009
This is the second oil painting in a series that grew to four and included views from my new home in Portland. This image identifies noise pollution produced from a bank building that had been constructed for three of the four years I lived in the West Hollywood apartment. Additional images include typical retail establishments found in my neighborhood (Santa Monica Boulevard West Hollywood, West Side). They include a ever present nail salons, coffee shops, and yoghurt stores, a Trader Joes, the infamous 24 Hour Fitness gym, and the sad state of affairs where the only gay bookstore in town closed its doors while one of many gay bars reopened after a fire.
The Garden: Portland One-painted the end of August and early September 2009,
This is the third painting in what became my series on the difference between West Hollywood and Portland. This is my new backyard. No noise pollution (yet: a new sewer line was constructed outside my front yard almost immediately thereafter. It's still ongoing and will be for a year). Nonetheless, the image and the town are far more restful.
The Garden: Portland Two--finished on September 11, 2009.
This is the fourth and final painting in the series I worked on two months before moving from West Hollywood and two months after moving to Portland. Here Spunky sits on the stairwell in our living room. Life is good!
Sculpted Head
Sculpted from imagination several years ago.
One of several sculpted heads from several years ago-from imagination.
Sculpted Heads
CARDINAL LANDING - JUNE 2009
A commission of a cardinal inspired by Charley Harper.
CIRCLES November 8, 2007
Inspired by a dream.
Jackal Priest painted on 5/5/08
Painted after a shamanic journey and road trip to Sedona Arizona.