BA-degreed in art & illustration 30+ years ago, I dabbled with oil paint for years, but it was never quite satisfactory to me. 2002, this particular media mix evolved.

Fueling its development, I credit a lifetime of picking up interesting bits of nature, a childhood immersed in mythology, attraction to Latin American art and a long-time hobby of drying and arranging flowers, sparked by the life-wrenching events of 9/11/01 [witnessed from 11th St & B'way, NYC] and the impromptu shrines that sprang up immediately after.

The pieces are alternate worlds, sometimes described as mini-gardens, I call them ‘out-of-the-frameworks’. Not to be mistaken for shadowbox assemblies, OFW's are multimedia 3-dimensional collages, sometimes dioramas, sometimes abstracts, sometimes just a bad pun, whose ingredients combine natural and unnatural materials, mixed well and anchored in picture frames. Occasionally the mixture stays contained but it usually expands in the process.

I feel there is a dichotomy inherent in all my ‘out-of-the-frameworks’ starting with the materials employed. on one side a ground of natural materials; twigs, rocks, eggshells, dried flora, sand. Opposite and overlaying are plastic toys, bits of confetti, beads, hardware, ribbons. The frames attempt to define, square off a vignette, but more often than not it spills out over the sides. The environments may be populated with characters who are themselves of dual nature, half-human, half-beast, sometimes mythological. My OFW's frequently depict a conflict, even when there is but a single occupant.

Combining human sensibilities with animal physical abilities leads me to various speculations, from a superficial notion of accessing the animal powers, to how the needs/instincts of the animal may affect, even dominate, the human objectives and trains of thought. Is it a constant battle? Can they find a middle-ground or a life-style that nourishes both halves?

That's just a metaphysical overlay after the fact. Basically, the OFWs are fun to make. At some point they take on a life of their own, like writers often say about characters in their books. When that happens, my part becomes more interpreter than creator as the story unfolds.

Hope you enjoy them too.

The natural materials utilized may appear fragile, but have all been ‘de-naturalized’ by multiple coats of a UV-protectant acrylic, and a shellac finish applied to the final artwork. Treat as carefully as you would any piece of art.