USA Projects

I became unemployed in 2010. Like most artists who have day jobs, the change was nervously anticipated - more time for art work but no money to live on. I wasn't the only one feeling the pinch. Millions of Americans were facing major issues like unemployment, foreclosure, and uncontrollable debt. We watched daily as major corporations and banks made record profits, received government bailouts and reaped rewards the rest of us couldn’t dream of in our lifetime. The larger concept of tarnished America and the ever-growing divide of wealth came into constant question for me. The ever growing rich/poor divide, the untouchable 1% and The Occupy Movement. Corporate greed and income inequality.

A new direction in my work began with a series entitled “My Unemployed Life." It converted a fallow time of unemployment into thoughtful, laborous works based on the trappings of the work of “not working.” Indivisible is the next step in this series. Indivisible is a large-scale sculpture of The American “tin crown” to be created & exhibited while in residency at Socrates Sculpture Park in NYC this summer. The work will be 10 feet in height and within the circumference of the crown, I would plant a 4-leaf clover patch, only to be seen from the inside. The clovers will remain untouched until de-installation, when they will be given away as symbols of rare luck and the solidarity of never forgetting The Occupy Movement and its global impact.

Funds raised from USA Artists would go to purchasing all metal for this project. I look to make the work from found as much scrap metal I can find as it is key to its concept. As a sign of the times, ideas of commodity are changing and cashing in on metals - gold, copper, aluminum, has become a fairly lucrative venture. I have learned that scrap metal is just as expensive as the real deal. Any funds raised beyond $3,000 would go towards making Indivisible more complete and elaborate work of art.

Indivisible is meant to be a embodiment of a changing time. It's meant to fade and fall apart - to be kicked and dented. As time and weather prevail, the work will tarnish. Naturally created seams of metal will be purposeful and create the “piece-mealing” effect of instability and address the concept of faux wealth. The American “tin crown”; its status as a global leader is in flux. I'm interested in examining the indeterminacy & potentiality of the artists’ “road less traveled.” I see Indivisible as a symbol of America’s “becoming,” of questioning and living the life of the 99% while preparing the long road for changes to come. I thank you for any support you can give to this project.