An audio-visual installation, ideally screened on a large wall in an enclosed space with a loud sound system.
If you live in Marpole, you live with airplanes.
Digitally edited Hi8 video with stereo soundtrack, 2024
One minute clip from 30 minute full length.
“It must be some symbolism… I think it’s symbolic of junk.”
Mixed media on wood panels, 2018 (6” x 12” each)
In 1963, Ernest Pintoff and Mel Brooks made an animated short called "The Critic" that lampooned the animated shorts of Norman McLaren. The film consists of boldly coloured shapes dancing around the screen in a pretentious way, during which we hear the commentary of a cantankerous old man. Adamant he’s been swindled out of an honest $2.00, he proceeds to disturb his fellow audience members with a disdainful play-by-play of the action: “The fella that made this must be over thirty if they let him do this kind of thing, right? Why he waste his time with this? A fella like that probably can drive a truck... do something constructive... make a shoe...”
Mixed media on wood panels, 2016 (two 8” x 8” panels)
I'm a lover of junk, so the film left an impression on me. It reminded me how so many "everyday working people" have the tendency to see art as something frivolous; something for the wealthy, even.
My workplaces are full of junk, and most of it ends up in the trash. Sometimes I save interesting junk from being tossed in hopes of using it for something. Typical magpie behaviour.
Mixed media on wood panels, 2019 (8” x 8’)
These adorable panels (contraptions, as I call them) are made up of fast food wrappers, old bedsheets and dress shirts, as well as hooks used to merchandise socks, among other things.
As objects, these panels could be considered decorative junk. However, if you value time to daydream, they could be quite useful. Never underestimate the restorative powers of a good Rube Goldberg machine.
Mixed media on wood panel, 2019 (11” x 14”)
All of this probably amounts to a bunch of reheated Kurt Schwitters at the end of the day, but there's a lot of fun to be had turning garbage into art. Hopefully, people will pick that up whenever they see these pictures.
Acrylic on wood panel, 2021 (30" x 60")
Here's a couple of pop-oriented pieces featuring some of Vancouver's best little mundanities...
Ink and acrylic on wood panel, 2013-2014 (24” x 48”)
Ink and acrylic on wood panel, 2015 (24” x 18”)
Source material: the light fixtures at Olympic Village SkyTrain station, the clock tower on West 4th and Cypress, a metal staircase casting a shadow in Burnaby, and neon arrows at Save On Meats.
A 24th-and-a-half century excavation of "hieroglyphics" from the ruins of a Vancouver luxury condominium give future historians a penetrating look at the pointless, aesthetics-driven life of a Yaletown airhead...
Mixed media on wood panel, 2013-2015 (24” x 48”)
Mixed media on wood panel, 2013-2015 (24” x 30”)
Mixed media on wood panel, 2016 (two 11” x 14”panels)
One day in 2013, Riley Broderick and I decided to make an improvised video. Riley made up the narration on the spot while I plucked the metal racks of an oven like a harp. We wore matching tights and translucent Halloween masks, and for some reason there were a ton of cake donuts in my kitchen, which we tied to strings and iced with ketchup.
At first, we set up a cardboard donut shop in my living room, but eventually we took the production out into the common areas of the apartment building. Everything went smoothly until we realized we had locked ourselves out of my suite in that state of dress, to the bemusement of the caretaker who had to let us back in.
The narration and the oven sounds were later mixed into music composed on a Nintendo patched through various synthesizers.
We were thinking of Paul McCarthy, Felix Kubin, and The Kipper Kids.
This additional silent video in which we wore nylons full of donuts was made later that year for a show at Skylight Gallery, Vancouver.
I think the wooden attic we shot in reminded us of a whelping box, so we tried to move like newborn puppies.
These videos were also screened in 2014 at The Artery in Edmonton for Nextfest, and at Cineworks Vancouver.
Photos from the Skylight Gallery installation, 2014
Mixed media on wood panel, 2012 (two 8” x 8” panels)
Mixed media on wood panel, 2012 (five 5” x 7” panels)
Acrylic and ink on wood panel, 2012 (18” x 24”)
Ink, acrylic, and Letraset on wood panel, 2012 (16” x 20”)
Ink, acrylic, and Letraset on wood panel, 2012 (16” x 20”)
Acrylic on wood panel, 2011 (two 7” x 7” panels)
Isolation Day as it appeared at Blim Vancouver, May 2012
Acrylic on canvas, 2009 (36” x 36”)
Acrylic on canvas 2009, (two 24” x 24” panels; one central 24” x 36” panel)
Acrylic on canvas, 2009 (12” x 24”)
Acrylic on canvas. 2009 (two 12” x 12” panels; one central 24” x 48” panel)
Acrylic on canvas, 2009 (four 16” x 20” panels)
Acrylic on canvas, 2009/2015 (36” x 36”)
The airplanes were added in 2015.
Brash Play at Yactac Gallery, Vancouver 2010
Projections were screened on the walls, coloured tape was distributed, then stuck all over the place.
Brash Play photo booth at Olio Festival, Astoria Hotel, Vancouver 2009
Mixed media on canvas 2008 (12” x 12” each)
Mixed media on canvas 2008 (12” x 12”)
Mixed media on canvas 2008 (12” x 12”)
Mixed media on wood panel, 2010 (5” x 8”)
Mixed media on wood panel, 2010 (16” x 16”)
Mixed media on wood panels 2010 (two 12” x 12” panels)
Two panels specially made for display at Blim Vancouver.
Mixed media on wood panel, 2005/2012 (11” x 14”)
Mixed media on canvas, 2007-2008 (two 6” x 6” canvases, one central 5” x 7” canvas)
Mixed media on canvas, 2009 (8" x 10”)
Mixed media on canvas, 2007 (36” x 36”)
Mixed media on canvas, 2008-2010 (36” x 36”)
Mixed media on canvas, 2005 (two 6” x 8” canvases)
Mixed media on canvas 2005 (8” x 10”)
“Schlemmer-Rodchenko, bob-lace and crochet/clockwork pachinko triadic ballet”
Mixed media on canvas, 2006 (8” x 10”)
Reticent Work as presented at Blim Vancouver, October 2010
Mixed media on canvas, 2005 (18” x 18”)
Mixed media on canvas, 2004 (15” x 30”)
VInk, acrylic, and acetate on canvas 2004 (14” x 18”)
Mixed media on canvas 2004 (10” x 10”)
Mixed media on canvas, 2006 (10” x 20”)
Mixed media on canvas 2004 (20” x 24”)
Mixed media on canvas, 2005 (14” x 18”)
Mixed media on canvas 2004 (15” x 30”)
Mixed media on canvas 2003 (14” x 18”)
Mixed media on canvas, 2003 (15” x 20”)
Mixed media on canvas 2004 (16” x 20”)
Show poster and handbill for Harcourt House, Edmonton 2005
Acrylic and acetate colour copies on canvas 2000 (10” x 20”)
(clockwise)
“These Hands…”, photo prints, acrylic, and Letraset on canvas 2000 (9” x 12”)
Untitled, photo prints and acrylic on canvas 2000 (9” x 12”)
“Fiction”, photo prints and Letraset on canvas 2001 (8” x 10”)
Untitled, photo prints on canvas 2001 (16” x 20”)
Photo prints on canvas 2001 (9” x 12”)
Photocopied acetate and Letraset on canvas 2001 (9” x 12”)
B&W photocopies on canvas 2000 (9” x 12”)
B&W photocopy on canvas 2000 (left 9” x 12”; right 12” x 16”)
Mixed media on canvas, 2001 (24” x 36”)
Mixed media on canvas 2001 (18” x 36”)
Mixed media on canvas, 2001 (24” x 36”)
Mixed media on canvas, 2001 (8” x 10”)
Acrylic and pencil on canvas 2000 (15” x 30”)
Mixed media on canvas 2002 (14” x 18”)
Mixed media on canvas 2002 (8” x 16”)
Mixed media on canvas 2000/2003 (18” x 24)
Mixed media on canvas 2000-2003 (30” x 30”)
Mixed media on canvas 2002-2004 (16” x 20”)