Artist's Statement

ENERGY DYNAMICS

This term relates to the works which I have produced during the past two decades which represent the synthesis of a direction which I began in 1960. This term is founded on the premise that we exist in an energy continuum that is manifest in all life - animate and that which we call inanimate. The task I set before myself was to explore the implications of this and to graphically express my efforts in this direction. As I proceeded I found myself increasingly involved in ways in which energy manifested through color, line, and form can contribute to health - a state which implies ongoing positive maintenance of one's wellness.

I found that there were certain responsibilities that I had to take in creating these works. My first task was to learn to speak the language of color, form and line. My second task was much more subtle and far more demanding. This involved doing what was necessary to embody the healing dimension - here the challenge related more to human being-ness than to art techniques. In this I had help from numerous directions including psychology, esotericism, philosophy, spiritual orientations of numerous cultures, and most importantly, daily living. Ultimately, however it was in my own mind that attitude and will eventuated in a conscious commitment to healing. In spite of my own personal efforts in this direction, I do not in any way advertise myself as a healer, for the issue is subjective, and effects vary greatly among individuals. What I have done to the best of my ability is to produce an energy framework (through the medium of color, line and form) that may support the observer in experiencing their own well-being. The results of this have been:

Non-figurative paintings - acrylic on canvas (from about four feet square to six feet by eight feet). I think of these akin to novels, as they demand a great deal of time and detail to produce. Generally these works are untitled to permit the viewer to have their own experience with the work rather than to be influenced by a descriptive title.

Mixed media - these include pen & ink and color drawings, and computer-generated images (still and animated). These usually are in a thematic series in which I make use of both the non-objective (abstract) and objective (people, places and things) to depict concepts that are titled. The results are individual drawings, posters, computer prints, this includes Common Threads -2000-, a book consisting of 52 pen and ink drawings the titles of which have been translated into 5 other languages. My current project is a series of pen and ink drawings set in a ficticious mens clothing store in Carlsbad, New Mexico in 1944.

Communication through Line - an ongoing effort begun in 1958. This is a series of processes in which thousands of people of all ages have taken part. These "line games" have been applied to education, communication, the healing arts, art, and human development. A book dealing with these processes is in progress.