The Send Off
Approximately 55 in x 15 ft. Charcoal, carbon pencil, spray paint through hand cut stencils on paper.
The first drawing in the series. I started with the idea of depicting a glorioso waterfall on the right hand side of the image, and, like most of my other drawings, the image morphed from there. Launching? Jumping? You decide.
The first drawing in the series. I started with the idea of depicting a glorioso waterfall on the right hand side of the image, and, like most of my other drawings, the image morphed from there. Launching? Jumping? You decide.
Gone and Gone Again
2015 and 2016. Two massive back to back shows at the David Kaye Gallery in Toronto.
The first show, Gone, speculated on my response to absence and sudden loss on an immediate personal level. The "sequel", Gone Again, looked at loss in the public realm - the kind of thing often sensationalized in the tabloids at the check out counter.
Installation Shot, David Kaye Gallery
One of the great things about working on large sheets of paper, is that, unlike most other substrates, you can wrap the paper around corners. On this scale the effect is quite disquieting - something like walking into a distorted VR space.
Installation Shot, David Kaye Gallery
Porch LIght
3 Panels, each 50 in x 60 in. Charcoal, chalk and spray paint on paper.
After sweating all the hard geometry in this piece I promised myself to go back to organic imagery!
After sweating all the hard geometry in this piece I promised myself to go back to organic imagery!
Won't Go To Waste
Approximately 55 in x 15 ft. Charcoal, carbon pencil on paper.
A dinner party where suddenly everyone is "absent". And yes, that is my dog, Zephyr. In real life he is a very good creature, and wouldn't think about eating off the table - at least, not right away.
A dinner party where suddenly everyone is "absent". And yes, that is my dog, Zephyr. In real life he is a very good creature, and wouldn't think about eating off the table - at least, not right away.
Waiting Room
Two panels. Each 50 in x 60 in. Charcoal, carbon pencil, coloured pencils, spray paint through hand cut stencils and a whole lot of other stuff, generously sanded on paper.
Like anyone who has had a lot of medical intervention, me and my family have spent a lot of time in "waiting" rooms. In this case, my beautiful partner Sue, accompanied by the inevitable and oblivous fly.
Like anyone who has had a lot of medical intervention, me and my family have spent a lot of time in "waiting" rooms. In this case, my beautiful partner Sue, accompanied by the inevitable and oblivous fly.
What Goes Up
Approximately 55 in x 15 ft. Charcoal, carbon pencil, spray paint through hand cut stencils on paper.
My partner Sue, who is a compelling poet, was wrestling with her own fascination with geese. That's her looking up and looking out (at you).
I don't mind geese, but I don't share her compulsion. They seem to me to be almost too cumbersome to fly and they are always honking at something. Why not a meteor storm.
My partner Sue, who is a compelling poet, was wrestling with her own fascination with geese. That's her looking up and looking out (at you).
I don't mind geese, but I don't share her compulsion. They seem to me to be almost too cumbersome to fly and they are always honking at something. Why not a meteor storm.
I'd Guess About Three Seconds Left
Approximately 55 in x 15 ft. Charcoal, carbon pencil, spray paint through hand cut stencils on paper.
Revisiting an earlier concept I had explored about dancing pigs. Right out of George Orwell's animal farm. "Four legs good, two legs better". I am guessing that those uppity dancing pigs don't have too much time left on the planet - judging by the dogs.
Revisiting an earlier concept I had explored about dancing pigs. Right out of George Orwell's animal farm. "Four legs good, two legs better". I am guessing that those uppity dancing pigs don't have too much time left on the planet - judging by the dogs.
He Said, She Said
Approximately 55 in x 15 ft. Charcoal, carbon pencil, spray paint through hand cut stencils on paper.
Not so much about the condition of absence, but maybe about the "argument" that would lead to absence in two lives.
I remember starting off with the challenge of establishing the dialogue between two poles. In this case, male and female. My challenge was to fill in the middle.
Not so much about the condition of absence, but maybe about the "argument" that would lead to absence in two lives.
I remember starting off with the challenge of establishing the dialogue between two poles. In this case, male and female. My challenge was to fill in the middle.
Detail, He Said, She Said
Depicting the argument in a non-verbal way afforded me the opportunity to play around with all kinds of different imagery. A lot of dissonance, misunderstood symbols, and contradiction as in any argument. A really fertile ground to literally experiment with all kinds of imagery.
Smile and Wave
Three panels. Each panel 50 in x 60 in. Charcoal, carbon pencil, spray paint through hand cut stencils on paper.
A fitting farewell to the first part of "Gone".
A fitting farewell to the first part of "Gone".
Gone Again
This second show followed Gone immediately in the David Kaye Gallery. Where Gone had looked at personal loss, this series looked at people disappearing from the public realm.
Jack, Jackie, Zapruder and My Friend Paul
Charcoal, carbon pencil on paper
I am old enought ot clearly remember the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Even as a kid, I sensed it was special (on the teachers crying in class!) Something most definitely had been lost on a massive cultural scale. And of course, the whole thing was captured on television. And yes, that is good ol' Walter Kronkite. And yes, that is Jackie captured in Zapruder's home film of the assassination collecting Jack's brain from the back of the open limo.
I am old enought ot clearly remember the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Even as a kid, I sensed it was special (on the teachers crying in class!) Something most definitely had been lost on a massive cultural scale. And of course, the whole thing was captured on television. And yes, that is good ol' Walter Kronkite. And yes, that is Jackie captured in Zapruder's home film of the assassination collecting Jack's brain from the back of the open limo.
Two Wildly Differing Responses
Three panels. Each 50 in x 60 in.
Differing responses to the knowledge that JFK's brain had been maintained in very poor condition under the Arizona desert. The poor guy's brain is stuck in an endless loop of re-living a happy moment riding a roller coaster. Just adding to your conspiratorial paranoia! And yes, those are my two favourite people in the whole world posing for me - my partner, Sue, and our multi-talented son, Jaimie. And of course, I have presented an accurate depiction of Kennedy's much maligned and misused brain.
Differing responses to the knowledge that JFK's brain had been maintained in very poor condition under the Arizona desert. The poor guy's brain is stuck in an endless loop of re-living a happy moment riding a roller coaster. Just adding to your conspiratorial paranoia! And yes, those are my two favourite people in the whole world posing for me - my partner, Sue, and our multi-talented son, Jaimie. And of course, I have presented an accurate depiction of Kennedy's much maligned and misused brain.
The Allure of 3D TV Fades
Approximately 55 in x 15 ft. Charcoal, carbon pencil, spray paint through hand cut stencils on paper.
Trying to wrestle with the condition of "consuming" events rather than actually experiencing them. In this case, the tragic train explosion in Lac-Megantic.The mega entertainment centre, the remote, someone bringing snacks. "Consuming" the pain, in all the comforts of home.
I remember that in starting this drawing all I wanted to do was to depict an unstable glass of beer. The rest just happened. (and no, I don't have a TV that big.)
Trying to wrestle with the condition of "consuming" events rather than actually experiencing them. In this case, the tragic train explosion in Lac-Megantic.The mega entertainment centre, the remote, someone bringing snacks. "Consuming" the pain, in all the comforts of home.
I remember that in starting this drawing all I wanted to do was to depict an unstable glass of beer. The rest just happened. (and no, I don't have a TV that big.)
I Am Next
Approximately 55 in x 15 ft. Charcoal, carbon pencil, spray paint through hand cut stencils on paper.
A strangely prescient drawing. I drew the idea of a Rob Ford bobble head at least 6 months before anyone had heard of it publicly. And a few years before the extent of his illness was diagnosed (at least to the public) and his subsequent leaving the planet.
A strangely prescient drawing. I drew the idea of a Rob Ford bobble head at least 6 months before anyone had heard of it publicly. And a few years before the extent of his illness was diagnosed (at least to the public) and his subsequent leaving the planet.
Pundit
Three panels. Each panel 50 in x 60 in. Charcoal, carbon pencil, spray paint through hand cut stencils on paper.
Thinking about our society's current obsession with celebrity culture. In this case, the personable news anchor or "pundit" who happily dishes out all the dirt. But here something unexpected has interrupted the programming. And our experienced pundit (played so well by my partner Sue) easily shrugs it off as just another day in the life.
Thinking about our society's current obsession with celebrity culture. In this case, the personable news anchor or "pundit" who happily dishes out all the dirt. But here something unexpected has interrupted the programming. And our experienced pundit (played so well by my partner Sue) easily shrugs it off as just another day in the life.