Statement

“To my mind, fashion is one of the wickedest things in the world. Now look, for instance at the way they serve dogs, cutting off their tails to make them look plucky, and shearing up their pretty little ears to make them sharp, forsooth.” –Black Beauty

In my recent studio practice I paint animals. I am interested in animal imagery because animals are blank-canvases, as they are naturally anonymous and unadorned. They operate instinctively without attaching much meaning to objects or possessions, or often times, each other. Animals share with humans basic requirements such as nourishment, hydration, and protection from the elements. Some of us wander, some of us nest, some of us nurture, and some of us are dangerous. As “naked” humans, we are invariably searching for the “plumage” that personalizes us. We decorate ourselves and our surroundings with objects forcibly “plucked” from animals: a feather fascinator, a mink stole, a leather chair, a head on the wall. We use these objects to “beautify” our surroundings, impress our peers, or attract a mate. We love to accessorize with designer animal breeds that we feel reflect our own ideals and good taste. We clothe them and strap them with leather harnesses, surgically alter their features, and build fences to keep them from running away. Animals, of course, do not “own” one another, they do not and cannot exploit one another. I enjoy the juxtaposition of animals with these animal-made products, and the natural vs. the plastic and decorative.