"Circa 1986"

"Circa 1986"●
In the mid 80's I was living in New York, and climbing the 'corporate ladder. 
On my days off I would often wander the streets of the city with 35mm camera in hand, photographing interesting people, colorful doorways or thought provoking graffiti. 

Additionally, I would always I would find "stuff" to use on my boxes (note the little black bull on top, or the head shot postcards of news personalities, the skeleton key inside the box).  Although at the time I did not call what I did "art", all of these 'found' treasures would eventually find their way into or onto one of my boxes.

Yes folks - this is a box I made for a dear friend a long time ago, long before I even knew the word "assemblage”. (click on any image to enlarge)  
IN PRIVATE COLLECTION 

"Several Ways To Heaven"

"Several Ways To Heaven"

Bourbon box embellished with iconic images, holy ones and some not so much.  Wooden monk wears his faith in his rosary, iron hot plate with hand cut mirror insert, is the church window, reflecting faces of the onlookers wanting to learn the way to heaven.  A vintage Mexican ‘molinillo’, chocolate wisk, becomes the pulpit. On the back is an image of Michelangelo’s “The Sinner” wanting to find his way there too.  Bottle caps for feet and brass drawer pull on top. (click on any image to enlarge)

"Altared Nights"

"Altared Nights"●
This is a piece I just finished, and will be featured at an auction to raise funds for a community event for Day of the Dead.  In thinking about the upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations throughout Mexico and Latin America, I tried to imagine how altars are created by the people who make them and keep them to honor their faith in god and in their saint of choice, the Our Lady of Guadalupe.  The very poor and faithful find ways to create things of beauty from nothing or very little. Altars are not special because of the value of the things that make them up, rather they are valuable because of the special things they represent. 

This simple altar is made up of a wooden drawer from a dismantled tool bench.  The front columns are the legs a chair that have been split in half, a marble is inserted where the dowels used to be.  The inside of the drawer is covered with colorful tissues, and an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  I added some 'bling' and glitter, flowers and glow in the dark stars, and inserted a piece of glass in front.  
Very kool! (click on image to enlarge)  IN PRIVATE COLLECTION  

"Selected Endings"

"Selected Endings"  ●
A vintage oak file box has been converted into a (black?) magic box . . . containing 8 ways to choose your poison . . . sort of . . . will it be a vice? a vulture? drowning at sea? or death by gun shot?  Mystery and misery contained in lovely little glass bottles to be examined and explored. . . .   this is the 3rd of 8 new pieces created for the upcoming Day of the Dead festivities.  (click on any image to enlarge)

Currently all 8 pieces are on exhibit at Dimensiona Galleria in Petaluma, CA.  More images of new pieces to follow in the next few days.

"Saints and Sinners"

"Saints and Sinners"●

This is the second of four (maybe 5) pieces that I am presenting for Day of The Dead.  This piece is covered in bright orange artist's tissues and an image of Frieda Kahlo on the back.  A metal lizard on the front, and brass bell on the side.  The curtains on the doors are part of a vintage beaded lamp shade.  Inside are found objects reminding us of day of the dead items: on the top shelf is a bowel of fruit, a rooster, a bottle of tequila and flowers.  On the bottom shelf are the dearly departed, and an armadillo with a bobbing head.  (click on any image to enlarge)  IN PRIVATE COLLECTION