Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Mason Dickson (In Progress)


Mason Dickson (In Progress)

My current body of work is an allegory about memory's power to hold us back or move us forward. The central character in this parable is a 6 x 10 foot linocut of an Everyman, who has lost it all and wanders the plains with all his belongings strapped to his back. He navigates a world in crisis by learning from his past. The remainder of the characters that he encounters are individuals lost in regret.


I have developed these paintings and prints during the American housing and credit crisis of the past year. In contemplating where we are and where we might be, I have found myself looking back at history, remembering the Great Depression, and considering what effects it had on the American psyche. The uncertainty that existed then is present now, and I am addressing the kind of escapism through nostalgia that can occur in the midst of calamity.  Every character that the Everyman sees is gripped by this need to escape their present circumstance. They are people lost in a memory at the very point when they should be paying attention to what lies ahead.


Many different artists have inspired the flavor of this world including the photography of Walker Evans, the films of the Cohen brothers, the music of Tom Waits and the theatre of Robert Wilson.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Chalice Begonia (In Progress)


Chalice Begonia (In Progress)

I am going to start posting process images for my upcoming show with Armsrock at Thinkspace Gallery in December. The show is titled Mostly Memory.

My current body of work is an allegory about memory's power to hold us back or move us forward. The central character in this parable is a 6 x 10 foot linocut of an Everyman, who has lost it all and wanders the plains with all his belongings strapped to his back. He navigates a world in crisis by learning from his past. The remainder of the characters that he encounters are individuals lost in regret.


I have developed these paintings and prints during the American housing and credit crisis of the past year. In contemplating where we are and where we might be, I have found myself looking back at history, remembering the Great Depression, and considering what effects it had on the American psyche. The uncertainty that existed then is present now, and I am addressing the kind of escapism through nostalgia that can occur in the midst of calamity.  Every character that the Everyman sees is gripped by this need to escape their present circumstance. They are people lost in a memory at the very point when they should be paying attention to what lies ahead.


Many different artists have inspired the flavor of this world including the photography of Walker Evans, the films of the Cohen brothers, the music of Tom Waits and the theatre of Robert Wilson.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Brooklyn Door 4

Gouache on paper
22 1/2" x 15" 

Painting by Jessica Hess.  

I had seen another one of these at a show at Jeff Bailey, in Chelsea. Very cool interpretation.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Unplugged



I am in the studio about 14 - 16 hours a day. And most of this time I am listening to NPR. As the economic crisis has ballooned out of control, listening to news of it has made me more an more stressed. And I think I am listening with the hopes that they will turn it around. I realized this morning that I know who I am voting for and there is nothing I can personally do to avert the economic crisis. Because of this I am taking a break from reading The New York Times, listening to NPR, or even checking my twitter feed.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Mostly Memory


Mostly Memory, the work of ARMSROCK and ELBOW-TOE.
Thinkspace Gallery
4210 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
December 12 - January 2 2009
Opening Reception December 12  7-11 pm

Coming very soon. Should be an amazing show. I will start posting some process shots soon.



Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Long Way Down


Very busy getting work done for my show with Armsrock at Thinkspace, out in LA. I will start posting some images soon. I have been working round the clock and listening to a lot of NPR. I know that the roller-coaster that the economy is on is really starting to wear on my nerves. It is like seeing a car crash in very very slow motion. So slow that you can experience all the emotions with every extended frame.