After studying ukiyo-e [Japanese woodblock prints] I was inspired to use the structure of the original prints but integrate imagery from my childhood. In a Ukiyo-e print there is a strong diagonal composition. The diagonal indicates a natural flow [rather than using the fixed triangle as was prevalent in European painting]. The spirit world, and demons are often included in the imagery, and animals have a symbolic meaning. There were often four rectangles placed in the upper right corner and the lower left corner and included text representing the title, censor seals publisher/block-cutter and artist signatures. The woodblock artists also used the devices of the cutoff, close-up, and scenes which fade-out which was later adapted by Japanese as well as Western filmmakers.
Beach 15
Acrylic on canvas
30" x 40"
2009
You see a Fish [Mr. Big Fish], Rabbit, fireworks, the frame of the second floor porch of our house, and umbrellas, boardwalk, ocean and sand. Mr. Big Fish was a major character in many of my father’s stories. I learned lots about life through Mr. Big Fish. He was always able to solve a problem through rational thought processes. The Rabbit symbolizes my first mammal pets. I had two, and they were kept in a cage in my backyard. One day two teenagers came running from the backyard overjoyed that they killed both of these rabbits. This was my first encounter with death, and a brutal one. Every summer there were fireworks at Rockaway’s Playland on 96th street [I lived on 15th street]. There weren’t many high rise buildings along the beach at this time and we were able to see the fireworks from our second floor porch. So, every Wednesday night at 9:00 PM my friends would join me on the porch to see the works.
Wavecrest
Acrylic on canvas
30" x 40"
2009
Wavecrest was the only apartment house complex in the area. Playland was an amusement park about four miles from our house. That was where I rode on my first roller coaster. Playland was the place to go in the summer. The Playland clown logo was always very frightening to me. He reminds me of the mask used in the Japanese Noh Musical Dramas, which is the oldest existing form of theater. [Oni mask]. Every carnival/fair/playland has a pitching game where if you knock something over you win a prize. Pitch till you win was very popular on the boardwalk.
Broad Channel
Acrylic on canvas
30" x 40"
2009
Subway rides over Jamaica Bay felt like I was passing a Maine fishing village with houses on stilts on small islands. When I took this line it felt very surreal and very special. You would leave the city and soon travel over a quiet and serene section. The woman in the foreground of the painting represents memory. She’s looks out from the foreground door of the subway car leaving or heading toward the Broad Channel station.
