What Next?

Well, with IMPROBABILITIES hanging out at the Perimeter Gallery at Chase's Daily all nice and quiet I'm turning my thoughts to the next big thing! Actually this blog started out as an attempt to document my thoughts while I was developing what was an old thing and is now the next thing: high hangin' jacob's ladder construction/paintings. For all of you dedicated "As High as Heaven" readers out there (anybody?!) you'll remember that I had to scrap plans to exhibit them at Perimeter last year because there were issues with attaching them to the antique tin ceiling. Well, now I'm ready for plan B! Which is to exhibit some ladders at Stadler Gallery in Kingfield, Maine. The last time I exhibited there I had created a very long chain of canvases that hung from high in this gallery's framing...the gallery is actually a very large old barn. That show, "Operation 21 Prayer Salute" featured "Cavity Sam" painted onto coffin-like canvases. I got a lot of positive response to that imagery, including a Maine Arts Commission Grant. He is on my mind again! Other possibilities for these ladders might be the "HELLFIRE STORY", an "OH MY GOD" group, a group of canvases with lots of zeros or numbers painted on them, fallen female soldiers and civilians,what else...? Painted horizontal stripes with text...stay tuned!

Hanging High

Well, the show got hung, the public came and all went well! The response was pretty positive along the lines of: "Great work!...Too much to read, I'll have to come back!...Thank you for bringing humor to such dark subject matter." It was really good to go through the whole process of: deciding to create this particular body of work, enjoying the creative moments, handing it over to the hangers to interpret and re-configure, get feedback. My first reaction after arranging all of the work prior to hanging was that I wished that all of the work was simply black text on white background! That idea was rejected out of hand, as my supportive co-conspirators really liked the color text and color in general. But it got me thinking. I may pursue more work along those lines. Those that had viewed this work on the web prior to the opening were surprised at how big the large drawings were. So I am left with scale and color to consider...two very good elements to refine into my general pursuit of creating work that communicates and inspires. Thanks to everyone who attended the opening and the staff of the Perimeter gallery...you rock!