"The End"

"The End"●
"EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY IN THE END, IF IT'S NOT OKAY IT'S NOT THE END" John Lennon

The ultimate piece of advise, don't you think? In other words, no matter how bad things look today, we all have the opportunity to make things better. So don't stop trying and don't give up (till the very end).
A piece of wood covered in hand made papers is the frame that holds children's wood blocks.  A vintage folding ruler finishes the piece.
IN PRIVATE COLLECTION 

"Suite Jesus"

"Suite Jesus" This wooden box lid becomes an assemblage depicting a scene of 2 horses, dueling, apparently against the clock. Jesus ascends, or oversees from the 'suite' above. The crystal rod in the center, twirls with the twist of the vintage knob on the side, simulating who knows what . . . wind? air? water?
The glass cover is secured in place by brass tacks and chop sticks. Inside and outside, the box is collaged with layers of handmade papers and magazine images. This piece is finished and ready to hang. (click on image to enlarge)

"And I Have You"

"And I Have You" ●
 3"x6" Clock box covered in vintage sheet music, has a glass front, and small dice for feet.  Inside is a small painted wooden dog, a hair net and a metal violin.  In private collection.

"Escape"

"Escape"●
 Again, one of my earlier pieces.  This assemblage is made in a vintage wooden cheese box, and contains a porcelain doll's head and vintage children's blocks. I used scrabble pieces for feet, and a glass drawer pull as a topper. In private collection.

There are moments in our life when 

all we want to do is . . .  escape.

For Those Who Seek

"For Those Who Seek"●

This is one of my earlier pieces. Assemblage created inside a glass covered vintage cigar box, embellished with a crucifix I made from 4 silver plate spoon handles, and surrounded by various icons pertaining to different faiths. This pieces includes a "crank" type music box, and it stands on wooden drawer knobs.(click on any image to enlarge)

"Some Sort of Sacrifice"

"Some Sort of Sacrifice . . ."●
This is the second in a series of three. The first was titled "I Saw One in a River Once" and both pieces remind me of the beauty we see in our rivers, streams, lakes and oceans all over the world. Somehow, even through our most valiant efforts, we (humans) seem to be spoiling even this final frontier. Pollution, waste, oil spills . . . all contributing to our own demise. Wooden fish embellished with found items. (click on any image to enlarge)

"One Little Life"

"One Little Life"●
A few months ago, I was one of 18 artists invited to participate in a self-portrait show. Each artist was given a 20"x20" white frame to work within, in any media.  We were told we could use the frame "in any way you want" "as a box, or as a frame." We could "dismantle it or break it or use small parts of it." We could " enlarge it or compartmentalize it" we could "jump out of it" or "use it as a stand for a bronze statue . . ."  see where I'm going with this?
   The only criteria was that it needed to be a self portrait. YIKES! Since I had never done a self portrait piece, I felt quite challenged.  I don't paint, I don't draw, and I clearly am not a photographer. So after weeks of 'sleepless' nights and days of hand-wringing, I decided to just let myself do what I do . . . and this is what I came up with.
   The show has been up for only 2 weeks. I had decided I was not going to put a price on the piece since it contains various pictures of ME so I indicated NFS on the tag . . . but today, the gallery called to say a couple wanted to know if I would consider selling the piece . . . .  
   Ah, what to do? What to do?  I was thrilled, and of course said yes.  I do hope the folks that bought the piece enjoy having it as much as I enjoyed making it. (click on the image to enlarge)

"Mr. Lucky"

"Mr. Lucky" the bobble-head dog appears to be discussing the finer points of his religious convictions with his pal Pablo, who is standing on one-half of the new Testament (Roman Catholic Version), as La Virgen de Guadalupe looks on. On the back side, is an image of a Roman statue and a 45 vinyl record bearing Mary Ann Morgan's rendition of  'Vaya Con Dios". A vintage rosary hangs on the side, and on top is a vintage bakelite drawer pull. (click on any image to enlarge)

"House of Spirits"

"House of Spirits"
A brightly painted blue box incorporates religious imagery from several continents. I do not consider myself particularly 'religious', but the images associated with religion, more specifically the christian religions, are powerful, and always bring on overwhelming feelings left over from childhood experiences. Visit any church in any country, and the "spirits" can be felt or seen or perceived no matter what your own inclinations may be.
On the back is a black and white image depicting a church in the background, embellished with a hand made and welded 'spoon-handle' cross, and finished with a vintage brass Jesus.  Inside and behind glass is a colorful wooden egg, a miniature wooden harp, and a small flower vase.  2 colorful fish hang from the ceiling.  Wooden blocks for feet, and an amber glass drawer pull on top.  A brass bell hangs on the side. (click on any image to enlarge)

"My World Revolves"

"My World Revolves . . . "●
A sweet old candle lantern flea market find has been converted to a glass enclosed box (of sorts . . . ), a mirror on the bottom, reflects it all for the world to see.  A globe hangs in the center, and revolves. Sweet!

"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 

"The Real Trio"

"The Real Trio"●
In preparation for "Day of the Dead", I offer this piece constructed in a wooden cigar box, containing 3 small ceramic 'Catrinas' dressed for the occasion.  On the back side, the scene is a collage of magazine imagery, which includes a colorful wall and a vintage coca-cola refrigerator on some dusty street in Old Mexico while a fancy pig meanders by.  The piece contains a wind-up music box, and sits on a swivel platform covered in colorful artist's tissues.  On top, coca-cola bottle caps add more color, and a brass suitcase- handle makes it easy to carry. (click on any image to enlarge)

"El Patito"

"El Patito"●
Small wooden duck, be-jeweled and be-dazzled sits on his 3 porcelain knob feet, and is ready to celebrate in grand style, wears a satin ribbon rose hat. Intricate found objects to embellish include coins, bottle caps, buttons, colorful beads and a few silver charms. On this lucky duck's back is one half of a vintage silver plate heart ornament that has been in my family for years, but it broke last year, and has now taken on a new life. (the other half will show up in something soon I am sure . . . )

(click on any image to enlarge)   IN PRIVATE COLLECTION 

"Edna (take me as I am)"

"Edna (take me as I am)"●
This is Edna. She is terrific. A styro foam mannequin head that came from a garage sale in Arkansas is covered in vintage sheet music and embellished with parts from a vintage cuckoo clock that came from Germany many years ago. Because there were no facial features on the form, I created the nose, eyes, ears and mouth out of clock parts. The necklace is the chain that was once used to wind the clock. The hat and stand are vintage metal receipt spindles. If you look closely at the hat you will see the little cuckoo bird from the clock.  (click on the image to enlarge)  IN PRIVATE COLLECTION 

Blocks

Hello everyone! I just got back from a train trip vacation. What an inspiring way to vacation! I worked and worked on these sweet little wooden blocks cut from a left over 2"x2" piece of lumber. I collaged each block with text from vintage Japanese, English and Spanish books. I used magazine images, vintage maps, pictures from a bird book and of course sheet music.  They look terrific! (click on image to enlarge)

"Traveling Museum"

 
"Traveling Museum" ● . . . . . this is an 'ode' to Joseph Cornell
   This assemblage is very kool!  The wooden box is small 6" x 6" x 5". The outside is covered in vintage maps taken from a 1921 encyclopedia Britannica.  The brass feet are vintage toilet seat hinges, and the embellishment on top is a brass drawer pull.
    On the inside are 9 small bottles filled with things collected from my travels. . .  black sand from Hawaii, beads from South Africa, sea shells from Mexico, tempered glass from a broken window in Paris, white sand from Malibu . . .  you see where I am going with this.  Very fun and interactive.