New Work

I started a new series (hopefully) of work dedicated to my aunt. For those of you who know me well, know that my aunt has lived with my family since my grandparents died when I was just a baby. My aunt is blind, deaf (mostly), and as of a few years back diabetic. She is very difficult to communicate with as what few words she can say seems like a foreign language. She has obviously lead a fairly sheltered and isolated life, although she generally seems to be in find spirits. Vanessa generally roams around the house fairly unnoticed. It is difficult to believe that I have forgotten she was there as she is such a part of the environment. This work is among a number of things a way of giving her a presence.

Van was not born blind. She was born premature. From what I was told, she was put into an incubator, at the time, they didn't realize they had to cover the babies eyes from the pure oxygen. Her sight was taken away from her. This painting consists of two levels. The first level is a completed painting (generally colorful) of anything I want to paint. This layer is covered white with then a textural level. The only remains of the underlying painting is from memory (and a photograph which I will explain).

I photograph the lower level painting. The only person who I will share this photo with is the eventual owner of the painting. Once the painting is handed to them, they will have the option to view the first level of the painting. The photograph will then be destroyed by me. The idea is that Vanessa's vision was taken from her, all that could possibly remain is the memory of sight. All that will remain of the lower level is the viewer's and my memory of that level.