I recently discovered some photos of some of my earliest works of art. (Consider yourself warned, haha.) There was a lot of experimentation back then (2000-2005) as I explored materials and methodologies. My resources were extremely limited. My education consisted of art books, galleries, museums, the internet and a circle of young local artists who were collaborating, sharing, bonding and experimenting together. It was a perfect storm. We pushed and inspired each other. It was a fun, vibrant period (one of the most memorable periods of my life). I was a young parent at the beginning of this time, with kids who were two and six. I had been out of grad school (where I had studied creative writing) for four years. I was the primary caregiver for our family, also working part-time jobs (like a three year gig at Curious Books). Basically, I was raising my kids, working, writing, collaging and painting, with friends who were brilliant and talented and inspiring.
In those early days, it would appear that I was preoccupied with liberty and what I perceived to be the insanity of America. At least, that is what I remember.
My very first collage. This was on a piece of yellow poster board. I had been working on a novel while Jackie was young, but when Zach was born in 98, I couldn’t focus on it. I was too tired. I made a conscious decision to shelve the novel for five years. But I needed a creative outlet, so I started making collages. It was perfect. I could walk away from them and resume working on them at any time without much trouble. Eventually, my friend—D.C. painter and woodworker, Mike Clark—suggested painting. I had grown up with some creative encouragement—my mother’s side of the family used to give me sketchbooks and pastels and pencils and watercolors, and I had used them—but I had favored sports. I moved from collaging to painting. While I worked on the collage above, Jackie was right beside me, working on her own. The kids often painted beside me when they were young, as well.
Guess What’s Inside, collage, 20”x12”
Do You Yahoo, circa 2001, 40”x30”
This painting found a home in an apartment on Cape Cod. Gimme Your Masses, circa 2003
