look at that fat guy, said she
2021
31 1/2” X 20 1/2”
Oil paint and acrylic binder on fabric
ice dispensed every fifteen minutes, said the speaker
air conditioned bedroom, said the speaker
2021
32” X 48” & 20 1/4” X 12”
Oil paint and acrylic paint on canvas
is it real? said he
let’s find something that’s actually moving said she
2021
32” X 27”
Oil paint and acrylic binder on fabric
look at it said he
why won’t it look at us? said she
2021
16” X 16”
Acrylic binder, pumice, tissue paper and graphite on canvas
something’s under the sheet said he
let’s go find something more lively said she
2021
11 3/4” X 17 1/4” & 11 3/4” X 11 3/4”
Graphite, pastel, acrylic binder & pigment dispersions on wood panel
jaguars love water said the sign
2021
8” X 11 3/4” & 11 3/4 “ X 12 1/2”
Pastel, colored pencil and acrylic binder on wood panel
he won’t turn around for me said she
a perfect ass view said he
i wish it wasn’t pacing said she
he’s putting on a show said he
that’s not what I want said she
2021
32 1/4” X 56 1/4” & 10” X 10”
Oil paint, acrylic binder, pigment dispersions, graphite and oil pastel on canvas
it’s like he’s posing for us said he
2021
30” X 22 1/4”
Oil paint, acrylic binder, pigment dispersions and oil pastel on fabric
10 ft wingspan said the sign
2021
20 1/4” X 35 1/4 & 35 1/4” X 26 1/2”
Charcoal, acrylic binder & oil paint on canvas
...in their early 30s
said the keeper
....when flying resemble a small plane
said the sign
.....only breeding pair in the country
said the keeper
...hand reared and genetically selected to be successful
said the keeper
...artificial insemination on her now
said the keeper
the mountains
they want you back
in the hollows
of your wing-bones
you dream of
wind buoying
your body in flight
of land rushing
under like a river
but it is just a dream
you have never
left the ground
you pluck a white feather
from your skin
it catches a breeze
slips through
the wire fence
soars away
you walk to the
edge of the cage
clasp the wire
in your beak
spread your wings
and pull
and pull
THE GARDEN
06/2020—12/2021
This series of paintings and drawings was made from weekly visits to the zoo near my home for one and a half years. The process involved a ritual of sustained witness, as I stood still and sketched at a single enclosure for each visit. I returned to each enclosure for weeks while working on the corresponding piece. I never took images of the captive animals; I did not want to take anything from them that was not given. Instead, these works derive from my sketches of them and my memory of their presence that imprinted in me.
