About the Majestic In My Neighborhood Series...

First, there needs to be a bit of background or life context about my life. I grew up on the streets of Lincoln Park in the upper north side of Chicago, always a couple of blocks from the constant rumble of the “L” tracks. I lived in row houses and apartments in tight proximity to my neighbors. Yards were small, space was tight. No matter though, we were always outside building treehouses, digging tunnels, getting in trouble, or doing something potentially dangerous with friends.

Fields were local parks or green spaces between buildings where we played tag, football, or baseball. However, when we explored, we were in the back alleys, abandoned houses, empty lots, looking for treasure like old, discarded objects or better yet, cans or bottles that we could return to the stores for cash. I am a bonified alley-diver. I like alleys because that is where you see “what’s what.” I can find discarded treasures and appearances are unimportant. Things are functional and less ornate than the street-facing facades.

Growing up in the city, I also enjoyed visiting farms, going apple picking, and walking along Lake Michigan where space was more plentiful. When I first moved to Broomfield, CO, it felt like I was in the countryside, remote, distant, and empty. Broomfield is a sleepy suburb of Denver where driving is essential, and I still prefer the walkability, density, and hustle-bustle of the inner city.

Back to my alleyways, I have always found beauty in the rough-hewn, the simplified, the roughed-up, and used objects around me. So, when I happened across the water tower, utility poles, and hangar in my neighborhood, it was a bit of a homecoming. I found my alleyway in the countryside and could not help but see beauty in these objects.

I have always been interested in building, putting things together and artmaking. It’s the making that matters to me. As I pursued my artmaking, I came across art works that seemed unfinished with questionable craftsmanship. I had not formulated my understanding of the connection between production and idea in successful artwork. It was still about rendering, craft, skill, technical facility, until it wasn’t. These days in the studio, I craft with intention, work loosely because I should, and sometimes I do both.