Thoughts about the Carbon and Crust Project and new directions

This series came to a close (more or less) in 2017-2018, culminating in a larger multi-dimensional piece, Archipelago. I decided that this would be a good time as any to redirect my work into new directions, and quite a bit different from Carbon and Crust. And so, that new work is coming. Below, is a compendium of thoughts on Carbon and Crust, and of course allow me to share my gratitude to the many curators, directors, and gallery patrons who have helped push my career forward.

“Carbon and Crust explores geologic sources as metaphors and symbols within interdisciplinary formal directions combining painting, drawing, and sculptural techniques. Through layering and unearthing those layers, and then again adding and unearthing, I paint ‘crustal layers’, upon which I use to thrust mark making. Further, I use elemental carbon and mineral graphite at each layer to strengthen the connection to geologic origins. Many of the marks made on and below the surfaces come from power equipment. My control, and at times, my lack of control of these tools, provide the means to erode, to cut, to dig, buff, sand, and to pock the surface and sub-surface materials in ways that are directly reminiscent of natural, man-made, and archaeological processes. In essence, I am working to explore the sublime and to quite literally work with the same materials that I symbolize.”