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Memento Mori
This is work from my first solo show at School33 in 2011, which was one of my first shows anywhere. This material heavily relied upon and explored my theories on an afterlife.
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Memento-Mori.jpgMemento Mori postcard for School33. I also made a zine with details about all the pieces in the show.
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IMG_1890.JPGJust before the opening of Memento Mori at School33.
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The Project SpacePartial view of the project space at School33. The dioramas made a story, if one walked to the left upon entering the room.
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A Muse When You Need HerA tiny diorama featuring paper cut-outs.
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The GuideA rare Altoids gum tin featuring cut paper diorama showing a guide from the beyond offering support to the living.
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The Death Watch BeetleWhen the Beetle opens its wings, we can see into the Land of the Dead. Here, Charon (the ferryman) is launching a ship across the dead sea.
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HOSSENFEFFER & THE CURRY GOAT ATTACKA tiny cut paper diorama depicting Jack Ruby's dinner coming to an abrupt halt.
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Shipwreck LakePaper Cut-outs in sardine tin. A beast of a jellyfish emerges from the dark seaweed and plant life in the background to become entangled in a ship's anchor. The bottom of the lake is littered with sunken ships.
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The Ghoul and the GracklesResearch administrators try to barter with the ghoul for a corpse, all in the name of science. Cut paper diorama in a Hershey's Cocoa tin.
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See into the Land of the DeadTwo open coffins offer a glimpse down into the Land of the Dead (which is illuninated by a tiny, battery powered light).
Two Worlds Touch: Greenbelt Community Center Art
Debuting large scale drawings at The Greenbelt Community Center Art, I decided to weave a single story into almost all the pieces of this show. The cornerstone is the map, which points the viewer to the key elements of the story. For example, the map shows a paddock of the Four Horsemen, and on the opposite wall in the gallery stands a 10' drawing of the Horsemen waiting to ride out.
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Where Two Worlds TouchInstallation at the Greenbelt Cultural Center, with several long drawings, shadow boxes and dioramas.
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Two Worlds TouchA 20' long comic and two large drawings with cut-outs above the cabinets.
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A giant centipede chasing some rabbitsThis shows the left diorama in the installation, which measured 8' x 4'.
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A lonely path in the Land of the Dead8' x 4' diorama showing a lonely road in the land of the dead.
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Land of the DeadI created a map of what is known of the Land of the dead, and this map is the cornerstone of the show.
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Three Shadow BoxesThree cut paper shadow boxes.
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Graveyard VisitTwo skeletons greeting happily in a Twinings Earl Grey tin.
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Dioramas on PedestalVarious dioramas under glass
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The Four Horsemen10' x 4' drawing on Tyvek showing the Four Horsemen in their paddock in the Land of the Dead.
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Charon10" x 10" cut paper diorama showing Charon in the dead sea helping a ship along to the Land of the Dead.
Small Stories and Other Stories
Small Stories and Other Stories, a solo show at the Hamilton Gallery, collected over 80 dioramas that illustrated multiple storylines and themes.
My favorite is the story of the widower tailor, which appears in the manlte clock. He discovers that if one looks through the handles of scissors previously owned by other widowed tailors/cloth merchants/seamstresses on the 13th day of the 13th month during a full moon, one can see into the Land of the Dead. He's collected many such scissors, and some of these appeared on the wall next to the clock in the gallery.
My favorite is the story of the widower tailor, which appears in the manlte clock. He discovers that if one looks through the handles of scissors previously owned by other widowed tailors/cloth merchants/seamstresses on the 13th day of the 13th month during a full moon, one can see into the Land of the Dead. He's collected many such scissors, and some of these appeared on the wall next to the clock in the gallery.
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Small Stories flier
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Advent of the UnlikeliesA set of Altoids smalls showing a group of characters evolved from spacedust, in an advent calendar.
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Hope is in the OceanDiorama in a discarded tin of clams.
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Small StoriesA collection of small dioramas containing some of my favorite storylines.
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4-shadowboxes.png4 Shadow boxes
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Birds of a FeatherAlfred Hitchcock and Edgar Allen Poe discuss their worlds on a bench in a graveyard.
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Diorama in a mantle clock caseThe Widower tailor conducts research using scissors of late tailors/cloth merchants/seamstresses in an attempt to connect with his dearly departed.
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Inside the tailor's shopThe scene inside the clock diorama shows a widower tailor examining scissors of late tailors and cloth merchants, that be might gaze into the Land of the Dead on the thirteenth day of the thirteenth month under the lights of a full moon to see his beloved.
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Tailor ScissorsScissors from late tailors and cloth merchants, each labeled with the previous owner's name.
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Store Front View of Hamilton GalleryStore Front View of Hamilton Gallery
Scientifically Sound Questions
Scientifically Sound Questions are a series of animations that seek to answer life's big questions. I created an accompanying website where visitors can ask questions for me to answer in future animations.
The animations unfold on scrolls of paper, and feature cut paper puppets, my foley/sound effects and an accompanying soundtrack.
The animations unfold on scrolls of paper, and feature cut paper puppets, my foley/sound effects and an accompanying soundtrack.
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Scientifically Sound QuestionsScientifically Sound Questions, part one. I animated this on a long, single roll of paper. Completed in 2020.
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Scientifically Sound Questions: Coronavirus EditionScientifically Sound Questions: Coronavirus Edition seeks to answer some questions about COVID-19 with science. I produced this animation on a single scroll of paper, with puppets, visual effects and foley/sounds. The Scientifically Sound Questions series, which can been seen elsewhere in the portfolio, was inspired by conversations with my teenage daughter.
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The Bureau of Scientifically Sound QuestionsThe Bureau of Scientifically Sound Questions is a website I created where visitors can ask their own questions to be answered in future editions of Scientifically Sound Questions. https://bureauofscientificallysoundquestions.org/
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Coronavirus QuestionA scene in Scientifically Sound Questions, COVID-19 edition.
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If you look young?A scene in Scientifically Sound Questions.
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A question about cavitiesA scene in Scientifically Sound Questions.
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What shape is your itch?Learn the answer to the Scientifically Sound Question, "What shape is your itch?" by watching my animation.
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Is COVID-19 a hoax?Learn the scientific truth about COVID-19 by watching my film.
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Are we also a GMO?Learn about the effect of GMO based foods in Scientifically Sound Questions!
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Are Brains Squishy?Find out if brains (even YOUR brains) are squishy in my Scientifically Sound Questions series.
American Visionary Art Museum
I've been so very fortunate to have participated in two shows at the American Visionary Art Museum: THE ART OF STORYTELLING: Lies, Enchantment, Humor & Truth and The Great Mystery Show. AVAM is one of my favorite parts of Baltimore, and has been instrumental in my development as an artist.
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Three DioramasThree dioramas on display at the American Visionary Art Museum.
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AlwaysCut paper diorama in an old soap tin.
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The Ghost of TritonMy father and I loved sharing smoked herring, and I always loved the tins that required a key to open them. This cut paper diorama shows the ghost of triton in the sea, surrounded by creatures with eyes the truly glow in the dark.
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A ReunionCut paper diorama in a pocket watch. I love the idea of being reunited with what we love.
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Crosshatched charactersAs part of my artist talk, I demonstrated cross hatching, which is one of the traits I share with Edward Gorey. He was also featured in the Great Mystery Show, and we had fun learning about his life and work. I made a zine to accompany this talk, which can be found in the "Other Projects" part of this portfolio.
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Ghost in the Grandmother ClockAnother cut paper diorama, showing a grandmother clock and elements relating to my father's side of the family.
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THE ART OF STORYTELLING: Lies, Enchantment, Humor & TruthThree dioramas, and a letter sent to my best friend during college in THE ART OF STORYTELLING: Lies, Enchantment, Humor & Truth show at AVAM.
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Jim DoranI'm explaining something to two nice people.
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MonofilamentThis diorama is in a cassette tape case, which was given to me by my best friend in high school. While he passed away in the 90's, he continues to be an influence and guide in my life today. Everything in this scene points to our connection.
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A Dark and Gorey NightI gave an artist talk, discussing my place in the Great Mystery Show, as well as the work of Edward Gorey, who was fond of wearing a fur coat.