Member Since: February 2009
It is possible to say that my work as an artist developed out of my first medium, which was in black and white photography. This focus developed as a fascination for the mysteries of nature found within the microcosm of a landscape, a twilight scene,... more
| Gender: | Male |
| Artist Statement: | It is possible to say that my work as an artist developed out of my first medium, which was in black and white photography. This focus developed as a fascination for the mysteries of nature found within the microcosm of a landscape, a twilight scene, or the interplay of shadow upon light. Two years later, my artistic practice extended into painting and drawing. In 2003, I sojourned to Rome, Italy, where I studied for six months. There I became completely enthralled by the Renaissance, and devoted my studies to attempting copies of masterworks, and becoming interested in the philosophy of Euclid and neo-Platonism. Upon my return, I entered an apprenticeship under the great classical/conceptual artist Osvaldo Romberg, who instructed me in mastercopying and theoretical art. The first mastercopy that I completed under his tutelage was Mastercopy: from Guido Cagnacci, 2005. Osvaldo’s idea of analyzing the tonal structure of a painting later influenced me to begin experimenting with language and cryptography, in the sense that the tonal scale became a model of conceptual organization that could be applied in many ways. This time in my life was also tainted by the presence of the ensuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As such the politico-military situation presented itself as a strong and penetrating influence. My work became steeped in darkness, black being the predominant tone for all of my pieces. The war was another influence in my use of language and cryptography, as well as an exhibit that I viewed at the Whitney Museum of Cy Twombly’s work involving cryptography and cartography. Works like Fallujah, 2005, directly express the war in Iraq, as a work of cartography done the day of the military strike on Fallujah. Other works such as Euhemerism, 2005, and Untitled, 2005 also apply cryptography through the use of language. The presence of language in my work is also evident in other later works, such as MCXMVII, 2008 in which a cross constructed of Hebrew letters is set within the shattered head of the Virgin as she is holding the body of Christ. Other faceless figures in my work are evident as well, including Avenging Angel, 2005, and Figure, 2005. The depiction of figures without faces during this period is perhaps a manifestation of the dehumanizing aspects of war. My work is influenced greatly by tradition, both in technique as well as in culture. In technique, I often employ classical methods of painting with glaze, and enjoy creating a sense of luminosity, and of light emerging or emanating from shadow or darkness. In culture, my work is greatly influenced by my religion as someone who is Catholic, but who is also of Bavarian Jewish heritage. This often reflects in my work through the application of Hebrew language in several pieces, or in the arcane mysticism of Kabbalah. This interest is reflected in the recent work, Untitled, 2010, where in the center of the canvas, there is a large molecular looking structure that might resemble the Ten Sephirot, the Kabbalistic tree of life. However, this form could possibly be read on many levels, such as a representation of an abstracted cluster of grapes representing the blood of Christ, or as Christ as the true vine. Along the bottom of the painting, there is a Greek scripture from the book of Luke, which reads, “The Kingdom of God is Within You.” I have been told that my artwork often express something that is at once antiquarian as well as of the future. In more recent work, I have focused on things that are more personal, such as Portrait of My Mother, age 17, 2010. I have been formulating works more in this tonal range, also doing silverpoint drawings or paintings of portraits, crystal vases and flowers. My work is steeped in many things, such as my religion and ethnic heritage, an academic interest in language and the Renaissance, the presence of the war, and a juxtaposition of darkness and light. |
| Education: | 2010 Toward an MA, Art History, University of Arizona 2009 BFA, minor Art History; University of Arizona Recipient of the da Vinci award for honors in multiple fields Fine Arts Honors Thesis: Classical Forms and The Structures of Language Art History Honors Thesis: Language Beyond Metaphor: The Structural Symbolism of Borromini's Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza 2003-2005 Studied under Osvaldo Romberg in classical painting and art theory |
| Awards & Distinctions: | 2012 Gold Medal, Chemin des Arts, Toutry, France 2011 Medici Scholar Award 2011 José Canchola Scholarship, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, San Francisco CA 2011 ASUA Academic Enrichment Scholarship, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 2010 Artists of Color Grant, Tucson Pima Arts Council, Tucson, AZ 2010 Haldeman Scholarship, College of Fine Arts, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 2010 Graduate Tuition Scholarship, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 2009 2nd Place, Religious Painting, Ukrainian Art Week, Kiev, Ukraine 2009 The Edgar and Irene Romo Scholarship 2009 University of Arizona, Honors College, Tucson, Arizona 2003 Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Dean's List, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2002 The National Dean's List, Honorary Award Recognition, Prescott, Arizona 2000 The National Dean's List, Multiple-Year Award, Prescott, Arizona 2000 Yavapai County Community Foundation, Philanthropy Award, Prescott, Arizona 2000 The Mountain Artists Guild, Art Scholarship, Prescott, Arizona 2000 Yavapai College, Juried Spring Exhibition, 3rd Place in Photography, Prescott, Arizona 1999-2000 Yavapai College, Art Scholarship, Prescott, Arizona 1999-2000 Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar, Prescott, Arizona 1999 Yavapai College, Award for Excellence, Prescott, Arizona 1999 Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Yavapai College, Prescott, Arizona 1999 Yavapai College, Academic Honors Fall and Spring Semester, Prescott, Arizona 1999 Yavapai College, Quartet Scholarship, Prescott, Arizona 1999 Yavapai College, Juried Fall Exhibition, 2nd Place in Drawing, Prescott, Arizona 1997 Yavapai College, Juried Fall Exhibition, Honorable Mention in Water Media, Prescott, Arizona |
| Professional/Teaching Experience: | TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2011 Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 2007 Tucson Museum of Art: Assistant Preparator, Tucson, AZ 2004 Mural Arts Program: Mural Instructor, Philadelphia, PA ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS 2012 “On the Phenomenological Nature of Geometry and Light” in John Hendrix, Nicholas Temple eds., Architecture as Cosmology: Lincoln Cathedral and Bishop Robert Grosseteste (London: Ashgate), forthcoming 2012 “Substance and Essence as a Form of Revelation in the Reredos of San Xavier del Bac” The Journal of Arizona History, forthcoming 2012 “Language Beyond Metaphor, The Structural Symbolism of Borromini’s Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza” (abridged) in John Hendrix, Jane Lomholt, Paul Emmons eds., The Cultural Role of Architecture: Contemporary and Historical Perspectives (London: Routledge Press) 2011 “Evidence of a Heliocentric Cosmology within Guarino Guarini’s Chapel of the Holy Shroud” in The Role and Practice of Artists in Society, forthcoming 2009 "Language Beyond Metaphor, The Structural Symbolism of Borromini's Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza," Honors Thesis, University of Arizona Library database ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS 2012 “On the Phenomenological Nature of Geometry and Light,” Architecture as Cosmology: Lincoln Cathedral and Bishop Robert Grosseteste. Invited Speaker; Session II with Dalibor Vesely and Simon Mitton, Lincoln, United Kingdom 2012 “Substance and Essence as a Form of Revelation in the Reredos of San Xavier del Bac,” Panel Discussion: The History of San Xavier Mission, The University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ 2011 “Forming a Theology of Light: Muqarnas Domes and the Influence of Geometry and Optical Theory,” St. Albert the Great Science and Theology Forum, The Thomas E. More Catholic Newman Center, Tucson, AZ 2011 “Evidence of a Heliocentric Cosmology within Guarino Guarini’s Chapel of the Holy Shroud,” The Role and Practice of Artists in Society, California State University, Los Angeles, CA 2011 “Evidence of a Heliocentric Cosmology within Guarino Guarini’s Chapel of the Holy Shroud,” Brown Bag Lecture, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 2010 “Language Beyond Metaphor: The Structural Symbolism of Borromini’s Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza” and “Ocularium Lucis: Guarino Guarini and the Cosmology of Light” (current research), St. Albert the Great Science and Theology Forum, The Thomas E. More Catholic Newman Center, Tucson, AZ 2010 "Language Beyond Metaphor: The Structural Symbolism of Borromini's Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza" (abridged), and "Henri Le Secq: Strasbourg and Amiens Cathedral," The Cultural Role of Architecture, University of Lincoln, United Kingdom 2010 "Language Beyond Metaphor: The Structural Symbolism of Borromini's Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza" (abridged), and "Henri Le Secq: Strasbourg and Amiens Cathedral," Brown Bag Lecture, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ MUSEUM EXPERIENCE 2010 Tucson Museum of Art: Curatorial Internship with Julie Sasse, Chief Curator and Curator of Contemporary Art Exhibitions worked on: "Into the Void: Abstract Art 1948-2008"; “Thanks for Being With Us: Contemporary Art from the Douglas Nielsen Collection” Didactics for the Into the Void exhibition, preparing docent tours, study materials for docents including exhibition bibliography, chronological timeline, tour notes, assistance in exhibition layout and selection of works. Installation of the Douglas Nielsen Exhibition and Into the Void exhibition. |
| Exhibitions: | MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS 2011 Fresh Paint, The University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ 2010 Hybridity: American Unity, The Latino Museum for Art, History and Culture, Los Angeles, CA INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS 2012 Paris-San Carlos Art Exchange, Hotel du Nord, Office de Tourisme, Salle de la Guinguette, Avallon, Toutry, and Quarré les Tombes, France 2011 Paris-San Carlos Art Exchange, San Carlos Yacht Club, San Carlos, Mexico 2011 Paris-San Carlos Exchange, San Carlos Yacht Club, San Carlos, Mexico 2010 Paris-Tucson Exchange, Bondy Arts International, Paris, France 2009 Ukrainian Art Week, Kiev, Ukraine 2009 World Mini-Print Exhibition, Lessedra Gallery, Sofia, Blugaria SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2009 BFA Honors Thesis Exhibition, "Classical Forms and The Structures of Language", Lionel Rombach Gallery, Tucson, AZ GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2012 Mélange Art Show, Ward 6 Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2011 Faces, Fragment Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2011 Grand Re-Opening Exhibition, Fragment Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2011 Salon des Réfusé, Dinnerware Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2011 Paradoxes in Art, T.M. Sundt Gallery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 2009 Bean Pod to iPod, Tucson, AZ 2009 Atmospheric Existence, Tucson AZ 2009 Tucson Pima Arts Council Open Studios Tour, 801 Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2009 101 Heads, Rocket Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2009 Sweet-Tooth Print Exchange, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 2007 Portrait Commission, Caruso Family, Rome, IT 2005 Student Exhibition, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA 2002 Photography: Past, Present and Future, Prescott Fine Arts Gallery, Prescott, AZ 2001 Gallery Representation, Threadheads Gallery, Prescott, AZ 2000 Mural Commission, Yavapai Regional Medical Center, Prescott, AZ 2000 Photography Exhibition: Elements of Nature, Kroll Gallery, Prescott, AZ 2000 Scholarship Exhibition, Mountain Artist's Guild, Prescott, AZ 2000 Spring Juried Exhibition, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ 1999-2002 Gallery Representation, Exclusive Local Artist, A' Loft Gallery, Prescott, AZ 1999 Art Lessons 2: The Fundamentals, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ 1999 Fall Juried Exhibition, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ 1997 Juried Fall Exhibition, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ 1995 Photography Exhibition, Totem Lake Camera, Totem Lake, WA PERMANENT COLLECTIONS The Latino Museum of Art, History and Culture, Los Angeles, CA University of Michigan Print Club Collection of Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, D.D. |
| Artistic Influences: | Osvaldo Romberg, Leonardo da Vinci, Guido Cagnacci, Caravaggio, Baroque Art, Minimalism, Military Intelligence, Cartography/Cryptography, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Barnett Newman, Mark Rothko |
| Artist Tags: | religious, classicism, prints, drawing, geometry, painting |
