Fall Update: From the Flood to the Fire to the Fall.

I've been a little MIA on the blogs lately, not necessarily because I haven't had anything going on but maybe the opposite. With flood cleanup taking much of August and a few big projects both on the art and design side of the studio underway in September, not to mention a northwoods vacation, time's been a little tight lately...but fear not. Here is a Fall Update for those itching to know what I've been up to. 

First up is my latest public art project, The Downtown Milwaukee Ornament Trail. I was honored to be chosen for the second year of the project, completing Blossom just a couple weeks ago. I'll post an update with the exact location but keep an eye out as these will be popping up downtown if they're not already installed. I'll also be posting final pictures on-site as well as a making-of video,

Second up, I've got three small-scale paintings heading to New York state for a small-scale show in November. All three are from 2025, with one being my first ever "self-portrait" going on view (pictured to the right).

Last thing I've got rolling at the moment is a new series of large-scale paintings using frames I was gifted by one of my biggest collectors and great friends, which appropriately I've been calling "The Frame Series". I've got one complete and another in progress...with maybe 10 more frames waiting to join in. 

The first in the series is to the right, titled Virgil. The second, in progress below, tentatively titled Pollux. As you could probably assume by the titles, the new series will reach back into roman and greek history, mythology and philosophy, creating tangents that illuminate modern day intra and interpersonal thoughts, experiences and issues. 

While many know my productivity, few realize the amount of art I've actually produced in the last decade-plus. My 10x20' storage unit is already bursting at the seams, and the loss of the basement (at least for the time-being) provided me with an immediate need to address the storage situation. Starting November 1st I'll be moving to a new climate-controlled unit which, on top of providing a better environment for the art, will give me the opportunity to actually go through everything, document it, and, to some extent, get a full catalog of everything I've done since college. I'll be posting updates and lots of pictures...but I'll also be using this as a chance to discount some older work and hopefully find them new homes. Contact me directly if you'd like to schedule a storage visit or come out while the move is in-progress. This might be the only chance in a long time to see all 1K+ arts till my definitely-going-to-happen retrospective at MOMA in 2072.

One aspect of this series that I've always wanted to explore was purposefully leaving the area around the canvas exposed during the process and on view after completion. Not only does this (literally and figuratively) break the containment of the painting but provides insight into the process and, as I've always desired, takes art a bit off the pedestal, bringing humanity to the works in contrast to the idealized stereotypical assumption of  "isolated genius" or sterilization that often overwhelms art on a gallery wall.