February 15 - May 31, 2002

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

I would like to thank the Susquehanna Art Museum for giving me this opportunity. Special thanks to William Lehr, Jr., Marion C. Alexander, Tim Bummer, Clyde McGeary, and Rusty Baker, who all worked very long and hard to make this retrospective possible. It has also been a delight meeting and working with the curator, Lori Verderame, Ph.D., whose kind words and interest in my work is very gratifying and encouraging. I thank the individuals and companies who have supported this show through their generosity and ask you to support them as well.

I have been very fortunate in that I have been able to go through life doing the thing I love most, "creating." I owe this success to so many. My mother, who first stuck a brush in my hand and dragged me off td art school, my teachers, fellow artists, and everyone who has simple said, "I like that." This is my opportunity to say thank you to the thousands of friends who have sold my work, or purchased my work. They are the people who have indeed made it all possible. Of course I do not know where I would be without the constant support of my wife Donna, and son Dane. They have worked so hard in hundreds of art shows, while I alone received the recognition and exposure. In short, I didn't do this alone, it was a huge team effort.

There has always been a problem in my life. I am never satisfied. It's an uneasy, daunting, feeling but it's the one that keeps me going. After all I've done, I feel I've done nothing. Sometimes I even feel incompetent because this little voice inside keeps telling me, "the next piece will be better." At the midpoint of my career, after 40 years, that voice is still there telling me the best is yet to come.

Art to me, is just another form of "communication." I have had a lot to say about the strange activities of the human race or the beauty of natural places that are slowly becoming unnatural. Since I can't write, dance, or create music, I use images, color, and composition to send an idea from my mind to yours. Many of my works do not communicate well in words, the impact is only attainable visually. Some of my works will not match your sofa or wallpaper because that is not important to me.

Sometimes an idea needs to be expressed in another media because its impact will be greater, such as "No Problem," a bronze sculpture with running water. Without the water the sculpture says nothing.

The ultimate art for me is when the viewer reacts to my images. The stronger the reaction, the more successful I have become. One of the greatest aspects of being an artist is knowing that you will leave something behind to remind others that you existed, and perhaps show them what is was like in your day.

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