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Who I Am

The Shape I Am In tells a story of evolution in my process, from coast to coast, city to city, studio to studio, year to decade, state of being to state of self. The Detroit in me could only see itself objectively once in Philadelphia; then once in Oakland, similar objectivity showed me a path to deeper artistic progression via reflection on province.

One, precious, indispensable tool has been tight in my grip through all of those places and days and paintings: clear contact paper - and I know I always will have some, as long as I can afford it.

Why is this? What luxury do I see in this planning device?

Clear Contact Paper as a planning tool can make time go back and forth. It expedites - microwaves - the planning process in such a direct - and yet affordably cautious way, that it can coach what otherwise appears intuitive towards sophistication and a depth carrying a larger message.

My message as an artist to other artists is about this tool, the way it is a time machine. Better than a best friend, it is me, myself from the future and my objectivity about the present situation, whatever it is.

The overarching message of my work is attached to how, when we work through some moments of focus, the more objectively we can examine future situations, the better we can prepare. Not only “Be Careful,” but to quote Rage Against the Machine’s Testify:

“Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now controls the past
Who controls the past now controls the future
Who controls the present now?”

And I am saying I see a way of doing this with clear contact paper as a compositional planning tool for painters.