This was the third time I’ve shown art at the Annex gallery in Highland Park, Michigan, and the first time I’ve had the room to myself. It’s a great space, especially for hanging installations. High, east-facing windows allow late afternoon and evening light to turn dangling objects into scintillating spectacles. Perhaps the best feature of this space is the full 270 degree vantage given to those who climb the stairs to the second story, where they may — depending on the show — encounter additional, well lighted pantings on the wall, or sculptures perched upon the numerous pedestals of varying widths and heights provided by the gallery. I made use of some of these, myself, displaying a mix of new and old works never before shown. The titanium turbine blade elk skull mohawk, for example, is my favorite of all the skull mohawks I’ve made and sold over the years but, apparently, no one else's. The duck I made from a single skateboard, which took a solid week of engineering before I made the first cut, is one of the pieces I’m most proud of — both the product and the process — especially considering my limited woodworking experience. It’s not that I can’t let it go. I can’t make it go.
For “Trials and Tubulations,” I spent about three months making tubes from mig welding wire, and each was dipped in latex paint. Some were spray painted. While my first Annex hanging installation, “Ethereal Volumes,” (2018) consisted of about 40 tightly grouped peanut shapes, “Tubulations,” is made up of about sixty pieces, slightly larger, and spaced farther apart.
Although I’ve had a lot of long conversations with people at art shows about my work, I’ve been pretty tight-lipped about the technical details regarding my exact process. I figured I might generate more interest by revealing some of my secrets, so rather than hosting a standard “artist discussion,” I decided to do a live demonstration on the second weekend of the show. This was probably the best part of the entire two weeks, at least for me. And I think, judging by the response and the conversations I had with those who attended, it was very informative. After watching the video (which I could have used a mic for) there were a few things I would have done different, but I’m glad I revealed the details of my process. Even my sister said she never would have guessed I made things the way I do. It was fun, and I’m certainly not afraid of anyone running off and stealing my ideas to make a million bucks. I’ve spent nine years at it, and although I’m satisfied with what I have to show for my effort, it certainly isn’t a fortune. The important thing, for me, is showing my art in a space that works.
The Annex gallery is great for both my hanging installations, as well as my smaller stuff. I’d rather do less-frequent shows at this space in Highland Park, than spend my summers schlepping stuff from show-to-show, hoping the weather holds out so I can sell a piece to someone trying to decide between my sculpture and a wooden cutting board from the guy in the booth next to me. (no offense to woodworkers!)
If you’d like to find out when my next gallery show is, send me a note here, and I’ll put your email address on my list! If you’d like to commission a piece for your home or office, use the same form and I’ll get back to you.