The order of things

XEXE Gallery, Toronto, 2004

Art Gallery of Calgary, 2005

Ken Segal Gallery, Winnipeg, 2006

Hydrostone Gallery, Halifax, 2009

  A pool of elemental material swirls around the universe waiting to collide and combine to form, by chance, or by course, all things. Some of that material will be undoubtedly  coaxed into forms that would never have occurred naturally. The elements and resources used to produce these things, most likely, destined for some other allocation, determined by natural forces long ago. Regardless, this elemental pool is repeatedly drawn from to create everything we know.  Natural or otherwise all things share the same material, it is only the arrangement of atoms, molecules and elements that determine the outcome. Ultimately, however, all this material will return to the universe to be shifted and reformed yet again, into some new arrangement. One can only speculate on possible outcomes and what is, or is not intended.

  That speculation is presented as series of multi-celled paintings that will at once show the combining of elements to form new things, as well as, suggest alternate outcomes. It will be up to the viewer to decide what is predetermined and what has been manipulated.

  The paintings, mixed media on plywood panels, share root images from one painting to the next. This illustrates how a limited pool of resources can make up a vast number of things. It will be the arrangement and rearrangement of these images that will insure every painting has a unique conclusion.

  Through out this series woodcut blocks were used as found objects attached to the surface of paintings or as individual cells in multi celled paintings.

Toy Train or Milk Carton

Oil, tar, plaster, ink, on plywood. 32x32, 2004

Tool Box or Salt Shaker

Oil, tar, plaster, ink, on plywood. 32x32, 2004

Image 1 Combining With Cells (dust brush)

Oil, tar, ink, on plywood. 10x10, 2004

Image 2 Combining With Cells (ernie)

Oil, tar, ink, on plywood. 10x10, 2004