CONSTRUCTING PARADISE

Two graphic styles coincide in these paintings: rendered organic forms drawn from gardens and graphic over-lays of garden maps. The interplay of these diverse styles mirrors the organic nature of plants and the human conception of organization and planning. The garden is a liminal space between domicile and wilderness and is constructed for varying functions--from spaces of contemplation and solace, to play and relaxation. These paintings draw inspiration from gardens around the world and evoke a sense of spiritualism, the beauty of natural forms, and, at times, a sense of whimsy. In the present era, this celebration of the natural world becomes a political statement.

TURN OF EVENTS/TRIPTYCHS

The inspiration for these works follows that of the series "Constructing Paradise"; The realistically rendered forms of plants inter-mingle beneath the architectural drawing of garden maps. However, the triptychs make reference to topical events, such as the political landscape of 2016 in "Expulsion" and "Deluge", the lockdown in "Blueprint for Isolation" and "Plague", and the subsequent re-opening of social intercourse in the works titled "Flights of Fancy".

ELEUSIS SERIES

Richly textured paint surfaces and brilliant colors capture the sensuality and pathos of the Greek myth of Demeter and Kore. The paintings combine symbols from the story, such as the pomegranate and narcissus, with architectural remnants from the ancient site of Eleusis, where sacred rites were enacted for a period of over 2,000 years.

TALES FROM THE ALHAMBRA

These drawings strive to capture the power of the fountains at the Alhambra, while setting them in a contemporary graphic framework. Found within sheltering walls encrusted with delicate filigreed plaster, many of the fountains are the sole visual interruption in the semi-interior courtyard space--a delicately fluted bowl found in a centralized hexagonal depression in the floor. The sunken simplicity and mathematical elegance focus one's attention with a zen-like power. The reflections in the water, the subtle gradations of light and shadow, and the murmuring of moving water, are as vital to the experience as the material solidity of the fountains. Charcoal and colored conte sit on the textured surface of deckle-edged Arches paper, translating graphically the organic richness of the stone.