Statement for the Dirt Paintings 

The idea of dirt has always interested me; I have played with dirt since I was very young.  When I was 12 years old, I spent one long Autumn in Wisconsin constructing a building of  dirt and twigs.  It was structured between 3 trees and was large enugh to almost stand up in and quite sturdy.  At the time I also thought it very beautiful.

Dirt is important.  Dirt was here first and dirt will be here last.  It is made up of everything; plants, minerals, animals, complete extinct species and cultures and our ancestors. To use the dirt in my work is a reincarnation, symbolically speaking.

Location  for the dirt paintings is first decided since location determines the outcome of the paintings to a large extent. I often choose to bury the canvas (or paper) in my garden as I can control the outcome more easily. The earth or materials placed over the canvas determines it’s color and basic character. I often add leaves, flowers stones and other matter to the earth as suits my aesthetic purpose at the time. Water is usually used in some quantity to expedite the processes.

When the time is right, I retrieve the canvas and stabilize the natural processes in my studio and do further work on it and then mount it on stretchers.  Often, I draw insects or echini or other natural forms which to me are metaphors for that which we have lost