Well you have arrived and I hope you enjoy some of the things that have kept me afloat emotionally and spiritually, specifically the watercolors and photography that I have been working on over the past 12 years. When I first took several classes at the Art Students League over 20 years ago, I did not anticipate that I would develop a real desire to pursue photography or watercolors as a career. That had been a desire and still remains and so I continue painting, taking classes and draw a lot of gratification from this. Wherever I have lived, be it San Francisco - participating in several group shows and having a studio space on Potrero Hill or here in Western Mass, my hope has been to improve what I have been doing and gain some insight into the creative process along the way....... Please understand...it is very hard to be fabulous but I know and you know that I have succeeded.
I also hope that you enjoy some of the photographs of friends and family
that I have taken at various intervals over the past 20 years. Most of
us, over time....may experience transformations, mood swings and personality
disorders and no doubt those of you who know me can attest to the mercurioral
nature that is a familiar trademark of mine... Some of you have been there
way back in the 70's when I went not only to the opening of every major
club in New York but went to the opening of practically anything including
the opening of a thumbtack....The need to validate by attending openings
gave way to other pursuits.
Whether it be Danceteria, Studio, The Anvil, Area....I was there. I was witness to the fabulousness of New York at its disco pinnacle and decadence and as a citizen of the world and a student of delusional behavior, I am here today. There may have been just a few dozen burned bridges along the way, but whose counting when a landslide election is only 60 percent.
As
a disciple of Quentin Crisp, John Waters, the late Divine....I have learned that
the only time to worry is when people stop talking about you.
And on a more serious note for those of you who know and those who don't know, I continue to be fully committed to the concepts of social justice and equity for all and have lived my politics. I believe in the importance of civil disobedience and it's role in influencing social movements and shaping attitudes in our culture. That belief has led me to engage in acts of civil disobedience on behalf of gay/lesbian/b/t issues on many occasions putting myself physically in jeopardy for the greater cause of equality,l not special access and rights. I was very actively involved in organizing many demonstrations in New York in the late 80's around discrimination that gays and lesbians in our society were experiencing and continue to experience. I also actively opposed U.S. policy and involvement in Nicaragua and El Salvador. What I specifically opposed were moneys earmarked for the fight against communism that ended up financing right wing death squads throughout Central America.
I believe that one person can make difference. Making a difference and
giving back are two critical components of my philosophy and value system.
I am glad that I have had the opportunity to give back in this society
whether donating time to the Lighthouse for the Blind which I did as a
reader to graduate students for 2 years, working with homebound seniors,
I have tried over the past 20 years to consistently give back either by
volunteering or through my support of environmental,woman's rights,GLBT
and animal causes as well as the Anti- Defamation League, The Southern
Poverty Law Center and The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
My Sagittarius wander lust has led me down many paths professionally and socially. For the past thirteen years I have been a Clinical Social Worker for my bread and butter.In any event, I will cease babbling and pontificating and hope you enjoy roaming around the site...let me know what you think..I have not included every person that has been supportive. I apologize if I have not. If you are offended than my work here is complete.
In my travels and exploits as a dilettante, social activist, videographer and artist I am continuously in search of spiritual enlightenment and cosmic nirvana. Life's paths have taken me down many twisting and winding roads but I continue to seek out new challenges and opportunities to learn.
I want to thank my many friends and family for their continued support, especially my Dad and hope you enjoy the site! A very special thanks Ian, for your patience and all the work you put into the construction of this site.
Thanks
to:Dad, Pierre, Liz, Jack &
Susan, Dan, Fern, Bill, Katia, Jackie, Beth, Frank, Robin, Marea, Elizabeth,
Nancy, Ken, Jose, Roberta, Michael, Don,Tonya, Robin, Katie, Alex, Marvin,
Lisa, Robert, Nancy, Elizabeth, Robert and Terry, Tom and Ann, Jacqueline
and Jan,Ken, Jose, Vincent, Carl, George and Albert-RIP you have all been
there at one time or another and continue to do so. Gerri, ..Conyers and
my apologies to those if I have forgotten.....early Alzheimer's is so
inconvenient.
Church
Bell Tower
Hillside Town