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. Each piece is a miniature Altar with a dashboard Saint and a vial of healing dirt from El Santuario de Chimayo in New Mexico. I visited The Church of the Miracle Dirt in September 2014. In these works, I am combining my spiritual influences; the Hindu Monkey God Hanuman, Christian symbology and the mystical powers of the healing dirt. Each Altar has a small offering bowl, sculpted by artist Peggy Zask, for prayers, wishes, mementos and keepsakes. "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
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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 |
Snow Mack
I create surreal, narrative paintings inspired by dreams, visions, & pop culture. Archives
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