assemblage
All original works will be available for purchase in the Shop, unless marked SOLD.
alternating grain
mixed-media with found objects
15"x15"x2"
The primary material in “Alternating Grain" is a piece of weathered plywood that was found in the desert of Nevada. The highly accentuated grain texture follows a strong, unidirectional path. When the wood was cut into squares and arranged in an alternating grid form, the opposing directional forces were equalized. The arrangement suggests that at the core of dualism lies a non-dual middle zone.
rope or snake
mixed-media with found objects
23.5"x21"x2"
The Snake Rope story is a key Buddhist teaching on ignorance. It reveals that once we see things as they are (for example, when a rope is not a snake, but a rope), our suffering may cease. The wisdom gained from this realization allows us to live fearlessly, without illusion.
form is Emptiness/Emptiness is Form
mixed-media with found objects
28"x28"x3"
“Form is Emptiness/Emptiness is Form" refers to a popular Buddhist teaching called the Heart Sutra. It explains that all phenomena are fundamentally empty of form, feeling, volition, perception, and consciousness. In this work, black is white and white is black, creating a non-dual relationship of interconnection. For example, a shadow cannot exist without light. The yin/yang symbol of Taoism is also referenced.
Primordial Dot
mixed-media with found objects
28"x21.5"x3.5"
“Primordial Dot" references the following quote by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation master, and teacher: “We call it a dot because it occurs very abruptly in the situation, on the spot. If you are driving quite fast and you see an intersection up ahead, and you are uncertain which way to turn, at that point, there is a gap, and the dot occurs." At the center of the blackened circle lies a clear glass ball. This piece of glass represents the clear mind that exists within the gap or primordial dot.
Emergent Enso
mixed-media with found objects
18.25"x24.5"x1.5"
Under certain weather conditions, a natural process occurs that allows water crystals to generate patterns of frost on a window pane. The process is an example of emergence. Similarly, in “Emergent Enso," an enso form breaks through an encrusted soil surface leaving a natural pattern of black stains. The density, directional flow and resultant shape of these stains emerge from an amalgam of certain conditions, for example, soil topography, concentration of black pigment and number of pigment applications. Opening to this type of random, formal aesthetic is a way of “letting go," allowing shapes to emerge naturally, and embracing them just as they are.
Enso of Samsara
mixed-media with found objects
21"x21"x4"
The enso is a circular, Japanese calligraphic brush stroke often used by monks as a form of meditation in action. The black and white forms in “Enso of Samsara" are coated in dirt, referencing the cyclic nature of all things, while echoing the cyclic, directional energy of the enso. Samsara is a cycle of suffering through life, death, and rebirth. This suffering can be alleviated through the wisdom found in the Buddhist 4 Noble Truths, indicated by the four glass globes along the outer perimeter of the piece. The 4 Noble Truths are: 1) there is suffering; 2) there is a source of the suffering; 3) the suffering may cease; 4) there is a path to this cessation.
108 Malas for 108 Kleshas
mixed-media with rope
56"x50"x6"
“108 Malas for 108 Kleshas" presents 11,664 total knots tied into 108 rope lengths with 108 knots tied into each rope. The Buddhist mala contains 108 prayer beads and is commonly used to count repetitive mantra recitations, similar to the Christian rosary. There are 108 kleshas or mental states that cloud the mind and manifest unhealthy actions. The repetitive act of tying each knot or bead on a mala is an acknowledgment of the mental state for each klesha. In effect, it is a form of meditation that repeatedly confronts the challenges of our mental states in an attempt to attain greater clarity and wisdom. Therefore, during the process of tying the knots, boredom, groundlessness, fear, physical pain, doubt, agitation, and discouragement were openly embraced with courage and bravery.
Mending
mixed-media with rope
24"x24"x1.5"
“Mending: A Contemplation" uses the meditative act of loving-kindness practice as a performative, art-making process. Each two-stitch mend includes healing wishes for the artist in one stroke and others in the second. The others include family, friends, neutral relationships and even enemies. The subtle, alternating stitch pattern of each mend creates a non-dual middle zone, known to Buddhists as The Middle Way. The repetitive nature of this process can also be seen as a form of visual mantra.
Knots
mixed-media with rope
24"x24"x3.5"
“Knots: A Contemplation" acknowledges that suffering is a part of being human. Each knot and its fray suggests this suffering and all of its associated messiness. Hence, the knots were tied as an act of meditative performance using a contemplative practice called “loving-kindness" or “maitri" in Sanskrit. The practice recognizes unconditional, all-inclusive love that begins with oneself and extends outward to one's enemies. The repetitive nature of this process can also be seen as a form of visual mantra.
Nail Collection
mixed-media with found objects
7.25"x22.25"x2.5"
“Nail Collection" brings together a wide variety of rust-coated roofing nails, presenting them scientifically, thus encouraging close examination. The interaction of the randomly arranged textures and color variations on the nail heads offers a mesmerizing and meditative visual experience. In this way, everyday objects are transformed into something precious and sacred.
A Field Guide to the Button Kingdom
mixed-media
26”x26”x1.5”
A Field Guide to the Button Kingdom is a loose interpretation of the Quaker beliefs and ideals of American folk painter Edward Hicks as seen in his painting The Peaceable Kingdom. Hicks began his career as a distinguished religious minister but ultimately chose to express his beliefs through his images. The Inner Light doctrine, as preached by the Quakers, is depicted in Hicks’ paintings as a breaking down of physical barriers so that everyone can live and work together in peace and harmony. In other words, Hicks believed that there was no difference between all species of animals, humans included. I interpret this belief as oneness and interconnection, as seen in Buddhism and Taoism. After recently inheriting my mother’s vintage button collection, I immediately noticed the variety of buttons, each with different colors, sizes, shapes, materials, texture, and decorativeness. However, the entire button collection was kept in a single tin container. As an avid birdwatcher, I regularly use a field guide to help identify different species of birds, all of which appear in one book. Therefore, A Field Guide to the Button Kingdom fuses the idea of oneness and diversity while providing the viewer with a contemplative experience focused on paying close attention to the details of each button. A random number generator determined the composition of all 484 buttons, and each button was presented within the center of a 1” square grid.
Assorted Animal Oculi
mixed-media with found objects
14"x14"x2"
The visual stimulus for “Assorted Animal Oculi" was a collection of old science and nature books. The formal diversity of the images of animal eyes was astounding. This work brings together and celebrates this diversity while simultaneously unifying them through a shared 1" circle cropping. Equanimity, oneness, and interconnectedness are further illustrated through the arrangement of the tangent, circular eye images into a square grid structure.
Centric Diatom Collection
mixed-media with found objects
13"x13"x3"
“Centric Diatom Collection" was inspired by viewing living diatoms through a high-powered microscope. Diatoms are single-celled plants that are housed in a silicon shell. They display a golden color in a variety of symmetrical geometric forms, including perfect circles. This work presents the simplified form of centric diatoms into a pseudo-scientific grid structure based entirely on numerical randomness. The resultant composition relies on the order present in the chaos that can be seen throughout the natural world.
Alternating Slots
mixed-media with found objects
14"x12"x2"
Alternation is a common theme used to explore non-duality, an elevated state of consciousness that transcends dichotomy. This awareness allows dual relationships such as I/other to dissolve and unify into one. The alternating pattern of screw slots collectively equalizes each other creating a visual example of non-duality.
shiny/dirty: An Impermanence Mantra
mixed-media with found objects
21.75"x16.5"x2"
Impermanence is a challenging subject that acknowledges everything is always changing. Nothing is permanent. Something new becoming old inevitably changes from something shiny to something dirty. “Shiny/Dirty: An Impermanence Mantra" originated from a dirty rag found in a desert arroyo. The orange-dotted grid pattern in contrast to the organic mud stains encouraged the comparison between shiny and new golden beads to a dirty and old discarded rag. The repetitive act of pinning beads to the dotted grid pattern is also akin to a visual form of mantra (a repetitive utterance used to aid in sacred practices).
half-portraits with heraldry & magic: an homage to kurt seligmann
mixed-media with found objects
Goatsbeard: A Scrambled Side View
mixed-media with found objects
19.25"x10.5"x7"
The fleeting beauty of natural processes is astounding. Goatsbeard (genus: Tragopogon) is a flowering plant from the sunflower family. During the seeding period, a puffball, similar to, but much larger than dandelions, is easily visible in the field. At one moment, it may be full of seeds, and in a gust of wind, they may all be gone, airborne. “Goatsbeard: A Scrambled Side View" is a response to experiencing this fleeting moment. When viewed directly from the front, this work appears all white, yet, once the viewer shifts to either side, a scrambled grid of green, Goatsbeard imagery is visible. This shift encourages us all to look more closely, so that we may deepen our perceptual awareness of the world.
reconfiguration #1
Re-Composition VI
wooden chair, enamel, acrylic, hardware
8”x8” (each); 8”x70” (series)
“Re-Composition I–VII” is informed explicitly by a life-threatening accident that befell self-taught artist Daniel Belardinelli. The accident resulted in a shattered seventh cervical vertebra that needed replacement. Upon awakening from surgery, Daniel was told that the shattered vertebra was replaced with a cadaver's. Based on this experience, Daniel was inspired to create "The Art of Coming Undone" where the seventh cervical vertebra was painted red.
Therefore, “Re-Composition I–VII” is a contemplation on that traumatic experience. Using an old, discarded chair (cadaver) cut up into one-inch squares, seven works were randomly re-composed into new seven-inch by seven-inch compositions. Each composition was then randomly assigned a single, painted, one-inch square red piece. All seven re-composed works are vertically hung, in alignment, as the seven cervical vertebrae of the spine. The brass grommets have been added to suggest the foramina (holes) in each vertebra where the nerves and muscles pass through.
Randomness and order are especially relevant to this work and the interpretation of Daniel's experience. The random placement of the red pieces is akin to the random person's vertebra that was placed in Daniel's neck. Hence, his questions: "Who am I now? Am I male or female?" Am I nice or not?" The process of "coming undone" incurs both chaos (randomness) and order (precision/grid). Since both of these factors come together as re-compositions, it is the artist’s intent that they provide a balanced union, abiding with a sense of interconnection, thus offering wholeness to all.
Nail Bed
mixed-media with found objects
8.5"x13"x3"
“Nail Bed" refers to dukkha, the Sanskrit word for suffering. Dukkha acknowledges that, as humans, we experience a fundamental painfulness in our everyday lives. This form of suffering is outlined in the Buddhist Four Noble Truths. The repeating nail grid also introduces the notion of samsara, the Sanskrit word for continuing, cyclic change.
A Beginner's Guide to the Animal Kingdom
mixed-media with found objects
32"x44"x3"
“A Beginner's Guide to the Animal Kingdom" uses small engravings from an old science book's A to Z glossary of animal species. Each image was selectively cropped into a 1" circle, revealing each animal's most characteristic features. Then, each image was set into strips of cedar. The strips are arranged left to right from A to Z with all animals starting with an A appearing on the A strip and so on. Each strip hangs freely and can be removed from the support base. On the back of each strip of cedar is the particular animal's scientific name. As a result, the work is also a fun, interactive learning game. The length of each strip of cedar and its number of animals is representative of the frequency of animals starting with its corresponding letter.
Wetlands Collection
mixed-media with found objects
24"x32.5"x3"
“Wetlands Collection" is composed of a variety of natural materials collected while kayaking. The silence and solitude experienced while alone on the water provides an opportunity for deep contemplation of the natural world. Perception is heightened by this activity and urges one to look closer at what may seem ordinary. The foundation of this work is a collection of deteriorating bulrushes cut into 1" pieces. The subtle textures, mottled patterning and bold color shifts of the bulrushes demand special attention and are, therefore, the central focus.
Prairie Grass Collection
mixed-media with found objects
78"x34"x6"
“Prairie Grass Collection" presents eight, wrapped clusters of grass that are held in place by old, rusted clamp hardware. The hardware is attached to an old hardwood drawer front; therefore, all materials are found or natural. This work is based on experiencing the vastness and grass height of the prairie for the first time. The towering presence of the grass, as well as the opportunity to closely observe its natural form, activates both subjective and objective responses.
Dora maar: lost at sea
Slice of a Zen Garden
mixed-media with found objects
25.5"x13.75"x6.5"
The triangular, pie-slice shape of this work was informed by the angles in a found piece of wood from an old chair. The gentle arc of the chair back combined with the focal point of the triangle's apex, suggests a slice of a Zen dry garden. This slice may be seen as a contemplative moment in a monk's daily routine of raking sand around a stone.
Wheel of Life
mixed-media with found objects
40"x19"x5"
This work is based on a Tibetan Buddhist painting or thangka called “The Wheel of Life." It is often used to present the teachings of the Buddha concisely. With an extensive system of symbology, the painting depicts samsara, a cyclic state of suffering that occurs in existence. In this work, the thangka painting is loosely interpreted into an assemblage of found, 3-D objects. Some of the symbols represented here include grasping, karma, impermanence, and liberation.
Downward Gaze
mixed-media with found objects
28"x9.5"x8"
“Downward Gaze" is based on a contemplation of death. Contemplation is a form of meditation where the focus is placed on one's thoughts on a specific topic, thus promoting greater insight into that topic. A common and challenging contemplation is: “What is the nature of death?" The insight gained from this contemplation reveals the impermanence of life, therefore, provides a sense of urgency to live as fully as possible in the present moment.