The following work explores the seductive and contradictory impressions inherent in the use of nationalistic symbols and American iconography. I use a little league baseball batting cage (a setting from the everyday) and combine it with references to the military, energy, and Mid-Eastern country maps to make metaphoric associations and to encourage questioning. The tableau simultaneously evokes opposing perspectives that provide a framework and launching pad from which unrestrained conversations about U.S. foreign policy may emerge. The intent is to foster a non-judgemental, non-threatening space for open, non-heated dialogue about a controversial topic. I call the process: "enacting Democracy!
"Play Ball," mixed media installation, (variable dimension: 12'L X 12'W X 15'H,) The Big Show at Lawndale Art and Performance Center, Houston, TX, 2009, Juror's Award.
"Play Ball," Performative, mixed media installation, (Baseballs printed with images of military equipment, weathered wooden benches, baseball tee, astro turf, cloth baseball backstop painted with the outline of a Mid Eastern map, wooden baseball bat rack, empty glass Coca Cola bottle, large plastic bucket for baseballs, container of Double Bubble Chewing gum, oil drum, wooden Louisville Slugger Grand Slam baseball bats with wood-burned images of apache helicopters, metal support rod and chains.) College of the Mainland Art Gallery, (variable dim. 12'L x 12'W x 15'H,) Texas City, TX 2008.
"Play Ball," (detail photo.) Performative, mixed-media installation.
College of the Mainland Art Gallery, Texas City, TX 2008.
(Collection: Mr. Gustav Kopriva and Mrs. Sharon Kopriva)
"Play Ball," (detail photo.) Performative, mixed-media installation.
College of the Mainland Art Gallery, Texas City, TX 2008.
"Play Ball," (detail photo.) Performative, mixed-media installation.
College of the Mainland Art Gallery, Texas City, TX 2008.
"Play Ball," (detail photo.) mixed media, performance installation, 2008.
College of the Mainland Art Gallery, Texas City, TX.
"Play Ball," (detail photo.) A viewer participant swings a bat at a ball sitting on a tee, sending it careening into the backstop cloth, missing the Middle East map target he was aiming to hit, completely knocking over the tee and sending the wayward ball off the map! This is perhaps metaphor and an unexpected outcome for the participant who had prepared to have his delivery system (the apache helicopter on the bat) deliver a weapon (the bomb) to a particular country; but as often happens in life, things don't always go as planned... Is there a law of unintended consequences somewhere? Something to think about. Performative, mixed-media installation, Lawndale Art and Performance Center, Houston, TX 2008.
"Sovereign," mixed media installation, (variable dim. 5'W X 6'L X 4'H,) 2008.
"Sovereign," photo as work in progress, (variable dim. 5'W X 6'L X 5'H,) 2008.
Mixed media installation. (Black drop cloth isn't part of the installation, it was used solely for purpose of photographing the work in the garage setting.)
"Sovereign," photo detail, mixed media installation, 2008.
"Sovereign," photo detail, mixed media installation, 2008.
"Sovereign," detail photo., mixed media installation, (variable dim. 5'W X 6'L X 4'H,) 2008.
The following performative mixed-media work engaged members of the Houston community by inviting them to eat artistically prepared and conceptually metaphoric American apple pies while participating in open discussions about U.S. foreign policy. Do we always think about what we are ingesting when it is offered to us dressed a certain way? This work asked viewers to think about what they were eating; sweet things may go down easily but sometimes maybe they shouldn't be eaten. Literally food for thought!
"As American As Mom And Apple Pie," performative mixed media installation, (detail photo.,)
(variable dim. 6'W X 6'L X 8'H,) The Art Car Museum, Houston, TX 2008.
Photo courtesy of Bert Long
"As American As Mom And Apple Pie," (detail photo.) Nuke pie. Performative, mixed-media installation, The Art Car Museum, Houston, TX (var. dim.) 2008.
photo courtesy of Bert Long
"As American As Mom and Apple Pie," (Detail photo.) Performative, mixed-media installation.
Apache helicopter apple pie, The Art Car Museum, Houston, TX 2008.
Photo courtesy of Bert Long
"As American As Mom and Apple Pie," (Detail photo.) Performative, mixed-media installation.
Nuke Pie and Apache Helicopter pie, Art Car Museum, Houston, TX 2008.
photo by Bill Olive, Houston Chronicle
"As American As Mom and Apple Pie," Performative mixed-media installation.
Lawndale Art Center, The Big Show, TX 2007.
"As American As Mom and Apple Pie," mixed media, performance installation.
Lawndale Art Center, The Big Show, TX 2007.
"As American As Mom and Apple Pie," (Detail photo.) Performative, mixed-media installation.
Mom holding unbaked apple pie, Lawndale Art Center, The Big Show, TX 2007
"As American As Mom And Apple Pie," (Detail photo.) Performative, mixed-media installation.
Mom taking baked pie out of oven, The Big Show, Lawndale Art Center, TX 2007.
"As American As Mom And Apple Pie," (detail photo.) Performative, mixed-media installation.
Apache apple pie, The Big Show, Lawndale Art Center, Houston, TX 2007.
"As American As Mom And Apple Pie," (detail photo.) Performative,mixed-media installation.
Pie crust dough with soldier, The Big Show, Lawndale Art Center, TX 2007.
"As American As Mom And Apple Pie," (detail photo.) Performative, mixed-media installation.
Rolled dough, The Big Show, Lawndale Art Center, Houston, TX 2007.
"As American As Mom And Apple Pie," (detail photo.) Performative, mixed-media installation.
Gathered ingredients, The Big Show, Lawndale Art Center, Houston, TX 2007.
While doing research on the topic of the Death Penalty, I discovered evidence that caused me to change my mind about the issue. Contrary to popular thought, statistics indicate that Capital Punishment is not a deterrent to violent crime. Furthermore, evidence after the fact has also surfaced to indicate that innocent people may have been condemned to death. The following art piece was made to provide viewers an opportunity to physically walk within the confined space of a typical 6ft. by 10 ft., death-row prison cell and imagine how it would feel to be punished by being confined to such a limited space for the rest of one's life. In my view it is sufficient punishment for any heinous crime.
"Irrevocable," mixed media installation, (paint and markers on cardboard box surface, cement blocks, string, wood rods, and empty syringes.) Justice for All? Artists Reflect on the Death Penalty Exhibition,
(6'W x 10'L x 10'H,) M2 Gallery, Houston, TX , 2007.
"Irrevocable," (detail photo.) Mixed media installation, (paint and markers on cardboard box surface, cement blocks, wood rods, string and empty syringes.) Houston and Austin, TX 2006-2008.
