Symposium Year
2021
Preview
Start Date
3-20-2021 2:00 PM
End Date
3-20-2021 2:55 PM
Description
Artist Statement
I am a traditionalist artist from Northern New Jersey. I served in the United States Navy as a helicopter mechanic and survived something that many would not have. I fell 20ft from a helicopter while performing routine maintenance, on April 12th, 2013. On that day, I lost my old self and woke up a completely different person, one I could not stand to even look at in the mirror, and that was just the beginning.
To portray the horrific journey, I had to go through, I chose to paint the images of my memory in a very disturbingly surrealist way. I wanted the viewer to try and understand the hell I was put through. H.R. Giger was a major influence in trying to get that surrealist sickening image across to the viewer. Throughout the process of painting these memories and images, I was very open about my mental health and making sure to communicate with professionals. The series “Unwanted Events,” ended up being very therapeutic and releasing many emotions I did not know I was still holding on to. It also brought a sense of relief because many people were starting to understand more about what had happened.
“Tunnel of Rage” - Days after my accident, I sat staring out my barracks window for hours. I was bubblingly with rage and felt like I was slipping down a tunnel. I was slowly losing myself and did not recognize the new person I was forced to become. I hated her with a passion.