Babel (20,000 Words)

So, I've come up with an idea for a new project called Babel (20,000 Words). The idea is to use wood, glue, nails, and collaged words to build a model architectural structure which I'll then tear down and re-build, then tear down and rebuild, etc. etc. As a starting point I've allocated a specific amount of scrap wood to be used in construction. I have to use all of the wood - once the wood is used up then construction is done.


Below are several photos documenting the first structure, as completed.









Here's a photo of the materials after disassembly:


Now I'll use the same materials to re-build, being sure to re-use all of the material. I'll then document the finished structure, tear it apart, then repeat the process.
When will the project be "finished"? I'm not sure - I think the project may be more about the process rather than any sort of end product. Maybe in the end I'll have some sort of model structure with an inherent integrity (don't ask me to define what that means - hopefully I'll know it when I see it), or maybe I'll end up with a pile of sawdust and paper scraps. Stay tuned...

PBN - INRI (X4)

About 15 years ago I picked up a paint-by-numbers Crucifixion in a thrift store in Germantown, Pennsylvania. While visiting my in-laws several years later I found another one in an antique store in northeast Pennsylvania, and I recently picked up another on on ebay. For some time now I've thought about doing a series of works based around these images.


I began by scanning each painting, cropping and enlarging with Photoshop, then printing out the cropped image. I then outlined the contours of each colored area with a black marker, and further enlarged the image with an opaque projector and traced it onto a 14 x 18" piece of paper. I then traced the image onto the back of the paper so that I had a mirror image as well.


I cut a sheet of vellum from a large roll and transferred the mirrored images to the vellum with a black china marker, then flipping the vellum over so that the traced lines are on the back.


I am currently in the process of filling in between the lines using black china markers. After about 6 hours of work I have most of the center area filled in - I still have a lot of work to do.

Penitent

Penitent. 2004.
collage, gesso, and shellac on glass.
4 x 3-1/4 inches.

This piece is composed of collage, gesso and shellac and is layered between two pieces of glass. The collaged image at the top is from a painting by Francisco Zurbaran.

To My Dear Little Friends (Death Star)

To My Dear Little Friends (Death Star) 2006
collage on paper 6 x 4-1/2 inches

This is also a collage from 2006. It consists of an illustration of a sphere cut from an old geometry textbook that has been glued to the dedication page from a 19th century children's book. There is a pencil line that mirrors the shape of the globe, and/or looks like a wire stand supporting the globe. This line was scribbled onto the page a long time ago, perhaps by the original owner of the book. The globe reminded me of the Death Star in the first Star Wars movie.