I have started on a new series addressing environmental issues that use forests and trees as a theme.

“Mary Jo” had an abortion at age 21 when she didn’t feel she could provide what was necessary emotionally or financially to raise a child on her own. Without legalized abortion women will risk their life to have the freedom to make decisions about their bodies and the way they live their own lives.

Prior to 1821 abortion was legal in all 50 states. In 1821 Connecticut was the first state to ban abortion. The text is made up of two pieces the first is the statute from the bylaws of the State of Connecticut from 1821 which banned abortions. The second is the Comstock Laws of 1873, which was the first federal law to address abortion. This Act criminalized usage of the U.S Postal Service to send items related to abortion.

“Mary Jo” 60″ x 37″ Ink on panel

Detail:

“Ash” rediscovered her sexuality while in college and finally made the choice to come out with the support of her sister. Since then she has become a speaker, activist and advocate of the LGBTQ community.

The text is Executive Order 10450 from 1953 that used broad language to ban homosexuals from working in the federal government notably the armed services. The Executive Order was part of a larger movement that included mass firings in the 1950’s and was referred to as the “Lavender Scare” which was discrimination based on sexual orientation. The “Lavender Scare” worked in parallel with the “Red Scare” of the same time period that targeted communism in the United States.

“ash” 60″ x 37″ Ink on panel

Detail:

I will be showing 2 pieces from my new ink on panel portrait series that examine the current social and political environment and put contemporary elements in context with historical events. I use the text from government documents or declarations from the past and use those words as my mark to make portraits of people standing strong in the face of government oppression.

The show will run Aug 22-Nov 21. 2019, in The W. Keith & Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery on the Cal Poly Pomona campus

Opening is Saturday September 7th, 2019 from 2-5 pm

This is a portrait is of my grandfather depicted as he was waiting to board a bus to the Internment camps for Japanese Americans during World War II. The photograph I referenced for the portrait was taken by Dorothea Lange as she and Ansel Adams were commissioned to document the internment of Japanese Americans.  This portrait and how it relates to what is happening now was the starting point for this series. There is a common connection that is at once deeply personal and at the same time universal that I hope will inspire dialog and further research on the viewers behalf.

With the permission of Toyo Miyatake’s estate I reference one of his iconic photographs from Manzanaar to render a new interpretation of his image by using the words from Executive Order 9066 which authorized the imprisonment of west coast Japanese Americans and Executive order 9102 which established the War Authority.

Bluerider Art

“Paul” is the grandson of Juanita ”Holy-named Woman” Left-Hand. Juanita, a Native American woman was one of the last speakers of the dialect spoken by her tribe, the Assiniboine. Born around 1896, she witnessed the long battle to maintain traditional Indian life on the reservation as it was fought and lost. Juanita was overjoyed when historians came to ask her help in transcribing the dialect and the traditional Indian stories and their accompanying hand gestures. Those transcriptions, as well as her traditional beadwork designs and dolls now reside in the Smithsonian Institution Archive.

“Paul”  60″x 37″  Ink on panel

Detail:

This is my brother Blaine. He died by a gun 15 years ago. He and I grew up shooting in youth clubs and his passion throughout his life was competitive target shooting.

The words are the NRA bylaws.

“Blaine” 60″ x 37″  Ink on panel

Detail:

Mike was drafted into the army in 1968 during the Vietnam War. He served in the 1st Calvary as a helicopter gunner and was shot down by a rocket after 8 months.

The text Is The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution of 1964 which authorized the use of conventional military forces in Vietnam without a Declaration of War by Congress. 1968 was the year of the Tet Offensive which proved to be the turning point of U.S. involvement.

“Mike” Ink on panel  60″ x 37″

Detail:

Angelin is the daughter of my friends who are first generation Mexican Immigrants.

The text is the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which was the first federal law to ban an entire ethnic group from immigrating to the United States

“Angelin”  Ink on panel 60″ x 37″

Detail:

The dynamics of moving water reveal an unseen treasure

A wave breaks in the deep blue sea revealing prone figure that vanishes as quickly as it appears