Philosophy of looking up

New project.
Full scale tree, made of paper, set in a tall and narrow space.
100% white.
Why white? Because the reflectance of white allows for you to see every detail - the quality of a surface, of a material.

Why a tree?
Well, I saw an image on an architect's website that had a white tree on it and since trees are among my favorite things in life, I said "hey why not".

But as it is with all things you are drawn to but do not understand, the process of exploring it must unravel some of the mystery.

In the past year I have been thinking about the act of looking up.

I have begun to construct a false science about this (aka philosophy) that when you look up certain things happen.

1. Typically more light enters the eye, because typically light comes from zenith, and more light makes for less tiredness.
2. Your windpipe opens - allowing more air to come in.
3. Your view becomes uncluttered - there is a ceiling, or a sky.......not much to confuse you....and so you empty your thoughts for just a moment.
4. The act of lifting the chin invites a sense of pride or confidence.

These things I find to be physiologically positive, and so, with this tree made of paper, the viewer will (after removing their shoes - because shoes are a hindrance to energy flow) step into a space that forces them to simply look up. The light between the paper leaves may be visual clutter, but hopefully it will have the same effect of campfire, or ripples in a stream on a sunny day - it will mesmerize.

We'll see. I'll post new images as things progress.

100 Valentines Project

If you're reading this you've probably received one of the hundred valentines I made this year. Now let me tell you why I did this.

People say Valentine's Day is a Hallmark Holiday, created to increase profit for the Hallmark Card Company, but I don't care and it's irrelevant to me even if that IS the case.

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday because:
1. Pink and red is my favorite color combination - so happy and full of energy
2. I love glitter and valentine kitsch
3. It's about LOVE, and I don't think it has to be about romantic love, but love in general - for friends and family as well as lovers

What better way to show someone you love them than by making them something. The most valuable thing to make is time. I would say food is runner up. But for far away valentines, tokens of creativity suffice.

Now - let's consider materials - paper, glitter, glue, paint, stickers, pencils, scissors, tape - easy breezy and cheap! We are surrounded by paper in our culture. We are bombarded with catalogs, magazines, flyers, menus, business cards, wrapping paper, newspapers.........here is a wealth of material just waiting to be reused! And let me tell you, 100% of all 100 valentines are reused material.

On many cold cold nights in Brooklyn in my studio I was tearing, cutting, pasting thousands of paper bits together - translating the anonymity of consumer culture into unique, personal messages.