My concept for "Monkeys of Compassion" was inspired by the smiling monkey faces that are the main focus of each piece.  I wanted to create works that remind the viewer to be aware of compassion and goodness in humanity.  The "Monkeys of Compassion" evolved from the idea that, to me, the well known Three Wise Monkeys represent fear.  The world needs to move beyond our fears and respond with compassion.  Courage, kindness, and passion are just a few examples of the strengths of humankind. 

A spiral motif is the dominant design element.  The spirals are made with fortunes from fortune cookies I've been collecting for twenty plus years and three years of collecting Sunday horoscopes representing all twelve signs of the Zodiac.  The messages are slightly obscured, dispensing advice is not my goal, the viewer will gravitate to the words or not.  Placements of random found objects, toys, jewelry, buttons, game pieces and more, compliment the spiral.

"Monkeys of Compassion: Courage"
"Monkeys of Compassion: Kindness"
"Monkeys of Compassion: Passion"
17" x 17"
Assemblages
Materials include:
Vintage buttons from my Mother's collection
Vintage jewelry from my Mother In Law's collection
Fortunes from 20+ years of collecting
Sunday Horoscopes from 3 years of collecting
3 Dashboard Saints from El Santuariò de Chimayó
3 Vials of healing dirt from El Santuariò de Chimayó
3 Small raku offering bowls created by Peggy Zask
Found toys, rusty nails, beach rocks, monkey doll face, game pieces, and more
Vintage Angels wrapping paper
Glue
Gesso
Texture Paste
Mod Podge

Companion piece to "Baby Superman", "Baby Zod" is showing in the 16th Recycle Santa Fe Juried Art Exhibit, December 5-7, 2014.  

Step one: concept and inspiration.  "Baby Superman" was inspired by the idea of recreating the pod that Superman travels to Earth in as a baby fleeing his home planet.  "Baby Zod" ponders a similar journey for General Zod, with varying influences.  The companion pieces create a Light vs Dark scenario.  Part of the challenge was utilizing found and recycled materials. 

Step Two: Design layout

Step Three: Collage

Step Four: Finish work. Create the illusion of technology with bit and pieces of found and recycled material.

Details of completed work "Baby Zod": 14" x 11", Mixed media collage 

Materials: Basic structure, Masonite box - abandoned project of artist I share studio with (aka husband)

Found, recycled, gifted and yard sale Materials:

See's Candy wrapping
Various Christmas wrapping paper and gift bags 
Image - clothing store bag
Tie Rack packaging: celebrating 500 years of Paisley 
Baby Jesus - sidewalk sale at sewing factory downtown Los Angeles
Chess pieces - pawns - gifted to me for my frames
Keyboard keys - old keyboard
black and gold glitter - gifted
smile - dentist's post card
words on cubes, game pieces gifted to me
Dejour magazine collage pieces, magazine is free to Academy members
Envelope from AMPAS, annual dues letter, tiny Oscar design
Black Easter basket grass - gifted
faux gems, framing supplies collected over 3 decades
small nuts and bolts
nurnies and sprues, parts from model building kits
buttons
jack 
metal objects found on walks
sequins
computer parts found on walks
toy parts
Black plastic "crystals" -found chandelier
safety pins - yard sale box of 10 gross Prym Dritz - making safety pins since 1559

Non recycled materials:

Gesso
Acrylic paint
Mod Podge
Liquitex Gloss Medium
Elmer's Wood Glue Max
Quick Dry Tacky Glue
Nova Color Texture Paste
Hanging hardware

Summer 2013, I began experimenting in creating forms with cardboard and recyclable materials.   "Elton John Dream Vision" will be showing in the Santa Fe Recycle Juried Art Exhibit, Nov 15-16, 2013.
"Elton John Dream Vision" was inspired by a bizarre dream that could have been a nightmare but it was so silly! Elton John entered the room with a huge grin, big overcoat with huge shoulder pads, his trademark sunglasses, wearing a hat that resembled a bull fighters hat.  His entrance was followed by "Gumby" and "Pokey" and then "Badly Drawn Box Man", all figments of my dream mind.  I did sketches of the dream and then began creating sculptures to capture the feeling of the vivid dream.  I wanted "Elton John Dream Vision" to visually describe the feeling of dreaming, transcending waking memories or perceptions. I started without looking for reference of the popular celebrity, Elton John, relying on my impressions of him. The very act of trying to remember a dream brings a rush of fleeting notions, snippets of images and a barrage of moments. 

Dimensions:  H 24" x W 14" x D 19"

Recycled Materials:

Cardboard shipping box
Bubble wrap
Paper Doilies, purchased in 1988 in Wilmington, NC, finally had a reason to use
Paint brushes worn out from use
Wooden Chopsticks from Take Out food
Epson Printer Ink packaging
Kohl's Catalog
LA Times Newspaper coupons and color advertisements
Junk mail Handyman Listings catalog
Morgan Stanley Advertising Junk mail booklet
Left over Mixed Colors of Acrylic Paints
Gourmet Chocolate wrappers and foils from Godiva, Lindt and Bassinger
Organic Coffee Wrapper
Guitar Magazine
Fortune Cookie Fortunes, collecting since 1990
Cardboard inner rolls from Doggie bags
Dogs Hair bow
Gum Wrappers
Water Quality Report, Summer 2013, Los Angeles, CA
Meta Prayer, hand written, gold ink, from my World Peace Buddha project, June 2013
Star Glitter from my 40th Birthday, sometime last Century
Dryer Sheets
Paper Towels used to clean brushes from my last painting in Oils, Summer 2013
String from Newspaper
Package from Flower Seeds, Bee Attracting assortment, planted Spring 2013
Hummingbird Logo from Greeting card
Sticker from found Chinese Cigarette package
Black cardboard from Arbonne Make-up packaging
Hello Kitty Gift wrap from Son's 31st Birthday August, 2013
E.D.D. envelope paper
Lid from Liquid Calcium, Magnesium Supplement
Batting from pillow
$2 Nickel Wrappers found
Champagne top twisted to look like chair from New Year's Eve 2000
Dark Blue Tissue paper from Son's wedding February 2013
White Button from Mother's Dress

Non Recycled Materials:

Masking Tape
Mod Podge
Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue
Liquitex Gloss Medium Varnish
Pentel Ever Gel Ink Pen