Artist Statement and Projects

I live and work in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The vast majority of my work is shot in a studio setting where I have total control. It is almost certainly true that this is because the rest of my life is out of control.

Although my subjects are often distorted, these distortions are accomplished photographically and not in post-production, which I limit to development, color modification and the occasional minor effect or filter. Rare exceptions include photo collages.

Project: Americana

I’m interested in symbols of consumerism—the products that define our culture and what we find important—and how we devolved over time to a state of hyperconsumerism. Americana focuses on both classic and new symbols, and reflects the distorted value system that is a prerequisite for our economy.

Much of Americana is in a Pop art style, with several pieces clearly channeling and reimagining Andy Warhol’s product work, like his Campbell’s Soup Cans and Coca-Cola.

Macro shots of distorted products in the series challenge the viewer. When colors are not augmented, it generally takes only a well-known product’s unique color combination with a few other minor visual hints for a viewer to know what an image is of. If the colors are reversed, or changed in any significant way, the image becomes more challenging to decode, but not impossible.

The progression of the series reflects our ever-growing consumerism and its companion, an increasingly distorted value system. It also illustrates the beauty of these products. There has to be beauty in them. Our economy is dependent upon us purchasing more and more “things,” and they are made to be desirable and distinctive. Most children would not know a Granny Smith from a Pippin, but they know the Apple logo.

Just as the products they represent, the images reflect a shelf-life. A photo of a hot new iPhone today quickly becomes a photo of a relic.

Project: The Lives of Produce

I like to anthropomorphize produce, which gives it a unique kind of living beauty. These still lifes can amuse, depending upon subject matter, but can also be poignant, and reflective of the realities of life.

As a trained chef my appreciation of whole produce goes beyond its value as an ingredient.

Shape, imperfection, color, texture, size, perceived value and attractiveness define the approach taken for each photograph.