The Bethlehem Project

 

Untitled II (Bethlehem)
oil on canvas, 9x12 in

 

Untitled II (detail)

Untitled III (Bethlehem)
oil on linen mounted on panel, 5x6 in

My newest series of work-in-progress focuses on Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: its history and landmarks. Located in the Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem is the home of the epic, now-defunct Bethlehem Steel plant. The site was bought by the Sands Casino, which incorporated the steel history into the design of the casino and converted part of the site into an impressive art center. The blast furnaces and many of the outer buildings have been left intact. I am intrigued by the dark shapes hulking above this picturesque town.

Bethlehem also has a particular draw for me due to my own experience growing up in northwest Indiana, where the steel industry had a similar heyday and collapse, the huge buildings and smokestacks rising above the shore of Lake Michigan. Much of the area where I grew up is depressed and has not had the resurgence which seems to have buoyed Bethlehem.

All of these thoughts filter in as I wander the town and set up my easel to paint on site, braving the bugs, sun, and passing traffic.

New work, MFA Thesis

Grip

Lithograph, Edition of 10

22 x 30 inches

Mobility

Lithograph, Edition of 10

16 x 22 inches

Vision

Lithograph, Edition of 10

16 x 10 inches

Release

Oil on canvas

40 x 72 inches

Release (detail)

Thought I should post some clear images of my thesis work, since it is a bit hard to see in the pictures below...

Uncharted show opening

I am graduating this week with my MFA from the New York Academy of Art's graduate program in figurative painting and printmaking. Here are some images from the MFA show opening Uncharted, now on view through May 27, including work by 60 fantastic emerging artists. Below, I also included a few images from my final critique with NYAA faculty.

Opening night!

Above is the largest painting in my thesis work, titled Release. It is hung above 3 paintings by Joe Ventura.

The lithograph titled Mobility on the upper left is the second piece of mine included in the show. It is a litho of my grandfather's shoes, a powerful image which came up multiple times in my thesis work. Also seen in this photo are paintings by Imogen Slater (lower left) and Mary Harju (right).

Faculty discussing my thesis work. I included 3 lithographs and 3 paintings, all focusing on images related to my grandfather and exploring ideas about family relationships, aging, and mortality.

Sigh of relief after my final critique!

Prints prints prints

I am a printmaking fiend! I've been having so much fun in the printshop trying out new techniques, making a mess, and getting ink all over myself. Here are some of my successful images. In my paintings I frequently use photo reference which I have taken, but these images have all been created solely from my imagination.

Consequence

Lithograph (artist proof)

approx 8 x 11 inches

Witness

Monoprint with drypoint

Edition unique

approx 5 x 15 inches

Private collection

On the Hunt

Monoprint with drypoint

Edition unique

approx 8 x 9 inches

Show at Brooklyn Artists Gym Gallery

Calling

Oil on canvas

2011

30 x 36 inches

I am very happy to announce that one of my paintings, titled "Calling" was included in an excellent show at the Brooklyn Artists Gym Gallery. "Where the Heart Is" was well-attended and the work looked fabulous. This painting is an image of my grandfather in his shop with my grandmother looking on from the background. I have started to explore ideas about age, life experience, mortality, and the profound effect those whom we love have on our lives.

A few more

Below are a few more examples of my recent lithography work. I'm exploring family dynamics, the idea of home, and close personal relationships in my paintings and prints.

Ritual

2010

13 x 18 in

Sunday Night

2010

8 x 11 in

Mono-what?

My newfound printing obsession: monoprints. They are fun, fast, and surprising. You can work in a multitude of ways, but the idea is to work directly on plexiglas, a metal plate, or most any hard non-absorbent surface, and then run it through the press. You usually only get one good print, thus the term 'mono'print. These first few prints I did intuitively, just experimenting to see what would happen.