statement

Artist Statement

Growing up on a small ranch in southeastern Wyoming, I knew the landscape as an animate being and constant companion. It informed my world in a way people could not. In my art, I tell stories of how we engage with the natural world and how this relationship deeply influences our lives, especially in the American West. I combine mythological archetypes drawn from cultures around the world with the history and imagery of the American West in order to tell its history in a broader framework of humanity.

I often use reclaimed materials similar in energetic sources: old barn wood, barbed wire, dirt, canning jars, nature. This idea-object combination uses the inherent historical energy of objects to help tell the narrative. As a carpenter, and coming from a family history rich in the trades of the American West (teachers, railroad brakemen, boxers, lumberyard workers, ranchers, oil field workers, doctors, gamblers, bookkeepers, laundresses), I have deep respect for the physical attributes of the work people do in unglamorous daily life. In my art I incorporate often-unnoticed beauty and unappreciated skill involved in the everyday labors of necessity. I am inspired by the history of the West and its endless story, rich in metaphor, layered with contradictions and hypocrisy, and possessing a deep respect for what it takes to survive.

Living in New York City the past few years has allowed me to see my culture from a distance and gain a fresh understanding of the unique characteristics that make up the rural west and its cultures. The myriad of ways in which these contrasting environments complement each other expands my vision and understanding of what creates a sense of place.

In my current work I am telling the story of the American West using the format of Chinese scroll paintings from the dynasty eras. These two worlds, one ancient and one young, are both consciously intertwined with their respective landscapes. Combining the wisdom and mythology of the two cultures expands our understanding of our place in this world.