The Ebb and Flow

Want me to give you some excuses why I haven't finished a new painting in an embarrassingly long period of time? I won't. Though there's a nice mix of really lame and totally legit ones.

What I will say is that the past 2 years have given me the gift of many future paintings. (Read: emotional trauma, humility, heartbreak, grace, frustration, joy, and contentment. All wrapped up in a nice little life-sized package.)

I've also been working on this little side project, painting some murals, having some paintings featured on the set of a stage production, illustrating a children's book, and publishing some photos. (Of some pretty amazing folks, actually.)

So all is not lost. I'm not completely void of creative endeavors. (Did you see what I did there? Those were also very sneaky excuses why I haven't finished a painting... pretend like you didn't notice...)

Anyway. I've got 4 newbies in the works that I'll be able to share with you very soon.

So stay tuned!

"Behind Our Scenes" Opening!

Nicole Rosato and I made our curatorial debut this past weekend with the opening of "Behind Our Scenes", an exhibition featuring 34 Pittsburgh artists who also work in the city's museums and galleries.

Here are some pictures from the opening. Thanks to everyone who attended!

The show will run until February 13, 2010 at SPACE.

(812 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222)

...Click here to check out the gallery's website...

South Park Theater Exhibition

From June 10 -28 I'll have some pieces installed at

South Park Theater during their production of

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.

South Park Theater

Corrigan Drive & Brownsville Road, South Park, PA

412.831.8552

http://www.southparktheatre.com/

Pear

commissioned painting
oil on canvas
2009
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Meeting of Important People CD release!

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My good friends in the Pittsburgh-based indie/rock/pop group Meeting of Important People have just released their debut, self-titled album!

Check them out at http://meetingofimportantpeople.com/ and order a copy of the album!

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Té Café show update

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7 of my paintings are currently hanging

at the Té Café in Squirrel Hill.
Check out the work until April 4, 2009!

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2000 Murray Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

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Té Café's hours:

M - Th 9.00a - 10.00p
F 9.00a - 11.00p
Sat 10.00a - 11.00p Sun 11.00a - 10.00p

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Arts on Union show!

The closing reception for the Arts on Union show was this past weekend! Thanks to Christine Goldbeck for all of her dedication and support!

Here are a couple of photos from the show...

Make sure to check out upcoming shows at the gallery at christinegoldbeck.com.
I'll be showing a couple of pieces in the Women in History show at the gallery in March.

Until then...

... I'll be installing a smaller show at the Te Cafe in Squirrel Hill, PA.
More details on receptions and closing dates to follow!

The Gift

oil and screen printed images on burlap
2008
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Irish Breakfast and the new studio!

Finally settled in the new house and studio and at long last have something to show for it!

oil on panel
2008
Pittsburgh, PA


NFS


The new studio! (And a sneak peek at some works-in-progress...)

Upcoming Exhibition

Just a heads up to anyone around the Harrisburg area! I was asked to be the Feature Artist at the Arts on Union Gallery in Middletown, PA. I'll be installing the last weekend in December and the show will be up through the end of January. More info to come.

"One has to believe in what one is doing, one has to commit oneself inwardly, in order to do painting. Once obsessed, one ultimately carries it to the point of believing that one might change human beings through painting. But if one lacks this passionate commitment, there is nothing left to do. Then it is best to leave it alone. For basically painting is idiocy."

-Gerhard Richter

Current Exhibitions

So the Harrisburg show has been up for about a week now! Transporting 25 pieces across the state was a process and the installation was definitely an experience, but I'm really happy with the outcome and am excited for the closing reception on the 27th! Can't wait to see everyone out there!

4 pieces installed in the East Wing Rotunda

In the meantime, I've got a piece in the Fe Gallery's "In the Making: 250 Years/250 Artists" show in Lawrenceville, PA. 250 Pittsburgh/southwestern PA artists will be showing their work in celebration of Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary. They've also printed a color catalog of the exhibition which looks GREAT! Definitely try to see this show if you're in the area. The show looks awesome and is going to be a great visual of what's going on in the Pittsburgh art community.

Fe Gallery
4102 Butler Street, Lawrenceville, PA
Opening Reception:
September 12, 2008
7:30 - 10:30 pm

"That Box Under the Bed"

2008
Oil, mirrors, sequins, and wire on burlap, mounted on lightbox
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


Details:

"Il lascito di Michelangelo"

Oil on canvas
2008
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Commissioned by Mr. John Malady

Upcoming Exhibition

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September 01 - September 30

Pennsylvania State Capitol Building, East Wing Rotunda

"My Inside's Out" : A Solo Exhibition

N. 3rd and State Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120


Closing receptions:

Saturday, September 27 : 7:00pm - 9:00 pm

Monday, September 29 : 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

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I'm heading up to Harrisburg to hang the show this weekend! The show will run through the entire month of September and the family/friends reception will be held on Saturday the 27th in the Rotunda. There will be free food & drinks and a performance by the Pittsburgh band Meeting of Important People!

www.myspace.com/meetingofimportantpeople



If you would like a mail invite with details about the reception, email me (mooseart84@comcast.net) with your address and I'll get one out to you!

"Joy/Reconciliation/Future: You decide."

1 of 3

2 of 3

3 of 3

oil, marker, and charcoal on canvas
2008
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"Take it in, Toasty!"

oil on canvas
2008
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Rothko Chapel

"Silence is so accurate."
-Mark Rothko
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I recently came across my journal response to the Rothko Chapel in Houston, TX. The words and image don't do the in-person experience justice to any degree, but I thought I'd post it here. Rothko is the man. :O)

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May 9, 2008

Absolute and utter silence.

I can hear every knee crack, every crinkling of paper and every breath.

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After awhile, everything blends. Breath, steps, movement- all flowing together into this

slow,

tragic,

fluid movement.

The room itself is breathing quietly. The paintings that at first were flat and motionless have started breathing- almost painfully. A very shallow breath and a very deep, ragged breath at the same time.

Looking closely, you see the hand of the artist. You see “wounds” on the canvas. Areas of imperfection. Areas that make the surface very real.

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Watching people interact with the room is such a beautiful thing too. People are open and free and willing to express themselves in an environment that is comfortable, soulful, deep, and meaningful.

What an amazing place for contemplation or prayer or emotion…

Rothko’s statement “I paint big to be intimate.” really comes to life here.

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You can’t help but slow down.

Breathe.

Stop.

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The design of the building is so obviously perfect for these paintings.

Even the doorways, and the shadows and the light that they present, add to the space.

The space is both organic and rigid.

The lighting from the ceiling is almost other-worldly. Dramatic. Soaking the top of the room and barely touching the floor.

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The room is very much about

Light/dark contrast

Breathing easy and a sense of struggle at the same time.

I think it’s about that place that is so dark and so real.

A place we don’t often let ourselves go.

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"Two years, one wall."

This piece is made up of the remnants of about 9 paintings that were painted on this wall in the past 2 years.

Details:

2006-2008
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Upcoming Exhibition

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May 31 - June 13

Westmoreland County Community College

Westmoreland Art Nationals: Juried Fine Art and Photography Exhibit

145 Pavilion Lane, Youngwood PA 15697

Opening reception:

May 31

7:00 pm

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One of my older pieces, "Ask Me About Primanti's", was chosen for the Art Nationals. If you get out to Westmoreland to see the show, make sure you check out the Arts and Heritage Festival that will be going on at the same time! Both shows should be pretty cool, with both U.S. and international artists!

"I think, therefore I worry."

oil on burlap
2008
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Upcoming Exhibition

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May 11 - June 08

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art

Juried Biennial

221 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601

Opening reception:

May 10

6:30 - 8:30

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My piece "Tu as aujourd'hui. (You have today.)" was chosen for the 2008 Biennial! If you're in the area, stop by and see the show!

Open Figure Drawing/Painting Session

Pittsburgh artists:

The Watercolors Gallery (901 Penn Avenue) in downtown Pittsburgh has a great figure drawing session every week.

$10 suggested donation
6:30-9:30 pm
Professional models

Email: figuresession@verizon.net

"There she is... my pulse renewal."

commissioned painting
oil on burlap
2008

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

An addition to "Let's play house...?"

This was posted in the comments section of "Let's play house...?" on 4.3.08 by John Danchisko. We're in the process of working on a few painting/writing collaborations. I think this one deserves to be out here in the open...

Antithesis of Renaissance

How quickly snow fades to grass, or bones offer leaves;
In moments hair grows, skin wrinkles. Days break. Sunsets.
Triumph leads to fall - from mucous to
dust.
Silence. Gasping. Silence.
Destiny. Inevitability.
A return to innocence, void.

"Let's play house...?"

oil on canvas
2008
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania



NFS

"Well, here I am..."

commissioned painting
oil on canvas
2007
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania