the a list

  Its been probably 20 years since I last spent time with paint and canvas.  In June I took a stab at it again.  I bought some cheap materials at Ocean State Job Lot and started to revive my chops.  This is the first of several posts of paintings that I've completed since June 2023.  This painting connects back to an influence I discovered near Soho, NY in my 20s.  I wandered into a studio and found the works of James Coignard - a French abstract artist who had the right touch of composition and grit to inspire me.   Later that day, visiting the Strand Book Store , I was lucky enough to find a copy of the limited edition book of his work.  That book is something I referred to regularly, and something to which I've reacquainted myself. But the years have added new inspirations and perspective.  I've incorporated my printmaking and other elements that I've worked through since 2019, as part of my recovery routine when I lost some motor fu...

Sunday, July 2nd, 2023 I'm in between jobs and getting myself to museums. This summer has been rainy.  The grass (and the bittersweet) is growing. I went to the Harvard Museums - which are now free to the public - and found my favorite space there.   On the 5th floor there is a sitting area called the lightbox gallery.  Its generally quiet - there are gallery books for reading and a circle of comfy chairs.   Looking up through the glass ceilings, the rain rolling down the panes captured the mood of the space and the day perfectly.  

  I've been in a bit of a free float creatively.  Occupying myself somewhat obsessively with carving up portrait prints.  These are a few of my favorite prints. I've been using reference photographs and portraits that express emotion.  I gravitate towards expressiveness, clarity of the gaze and the light of the eyes.  I seek out sharp contrast that lends itself to simple linocut. I have to say that this current interval of work is a departure for what I'd consider my norms.  But I'm going to have faith that this wandering is an unfolding opportunity to see and experience the world and to find joy and pleasure in it.   

punt volat : A diacritical mark of the Latin script, called punt volat (“flown dot”) in Catalan, and found in the combination l·l to distinguish it from the digraph ll . I am happy to announce that two of my photographs, "Paul's Photo" and "Homeward," have been featured in the journal Punt Volat . It's published in Catalan (Spain) by a number of emigrants from North and South America.   "Paul's Photo" was taken in San Francisco in 2022.  It's named for a friend in Colorado, who picked the photo out of my photo library as interesting.   The photo itself is of a street curb painted red in the alley way next to the Continental Hotel.  The line it took was beautiful enough to warrant a photo.   The second photo is a black and white image of the MBTA Commuter Rail Train I took back and forth to work into Boston in the fall of 2022.  

  This poem - Spilling - is another example of automatic poetry I've been creating over the last few years.  One way that I chose to edit the poem was to put it to music.   I ended up really liking the musical version of it.  The poems was accepted by New Note Poetry .  After the launch of the poem on the online magazine , the editor asked if the authors wanted to do a video reading. I suggested using the video and it was well received. I thought I'd share with you.

 My Poem Spilling that I put to music will be performed at New Note Poetry's live reading on November 20th.     Spilling is one of a growing collection of automatic poetry that I've been creating.

  1291 numbers (016) Ink & pencil on paper Published in Stonecrop Magazine