| My
interest in neon, metal and glass began with a childhood fascination with
prisms, rainbows and colored light. It was exposure to the Impressionists
use of color and light to develop mood that inspired my interest in art.
The Constructivist movement of the early 20th Century, particularly the
works of Tatlin and Malevich, strongly influenced me with regard to structure
and form. Subsequent influences include the Abstract Expressionist focus
on non-objective interpretation and Asian culture's aesthetic emphasis
on the elegance of simplicity and the economy of form.
On a basic level, I approach my sculptures as meditations of form and
color. Using the vibrant colors and shadows achieved by combining neon
lights with glass and brushed metal, I explore the emotional impact of
luminous color and simple forms. This contemplative approach is most evident
in such series as the Circle, Arc Series, Composition Series, Celebration
Series and the Tectonic Series.
Of greater complexity are the theme-based series of my Venusian World
sculptures. In these series, I explore a fantasy world of luminous flora
and fauna including landscapes and dioramas in order to create an environment
in which many sculptures work together as a whole. The culmination of
this work is the "Venusian Gardens," a large scale diorama work-in-progress
at my studio and gallery, an historic church in New Orleans.
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