These small wooden and painted pieces began as a matter of salvaging materials from a remodeling job at home. The first group of works (Memo) were begun several years ago and served as a memorandum for future creativity. These have laid around the studio, sometimes on display, sometimes forgotten.

 

In 2020, faced with the pandemic and having more time on my hands than usual, I gave the work some more thought. I decided to explore whether I could make something similar to the first pieces in terms of surface and other physical qualities - thus Memi (think mimicry). I painted a couple of pine scraps bright yellow-green and set them aside for several months. I later cut them up and joined the strips of wood side to side as I had with the Memo pieces. To my delight the old and the new seemed to pair happily together.

When I began to reflect on these works and consider them in relation to my cut paper and painted canvases, some relationships between the two groups began to emerge. Both series involve cutting and tearing. Both use undulating and regular, flat line - although they do so in different ways. The cut paper works on canvas have straight outer edges and busy, undulating interiors, while Memo has regular interiors and busy, undulating exterior edges. In relation to painted surface, both groups feature painterly surface effects such as mottled brush work and contrasting flatness. 

 

There are several things that satisfy me about these works. I am pleased that the two series are quite different from one another yet do have much in common, complimenting and activating each other in ways I did not anticipate. I am pleased to have made use of salvaged materials. This is something of interest to me as a gesture of environmental care and as symbolism of renewal and revival. Most of all, I am pleased that these new works and relationships reinvigorate and energize my creative practice.