ABOUT THE DECAYING SPRINGS PROJECT:

The first time I visited Sharon Springs, I was intrigued and obsessed by the subtle beauty of this fading town. Sharon Springs is poised at the very end of a long era, as international buyers with new visions already prepare to transform it again. I am concentrating my creative efforts on sensitively portraying and preserving the fading historical layers of the mineral springs before they vanish entirely. The evolving town holds a special fascination for me. The study of the process of how things evolve and change is the focus of my art and my life. My role as artist is to translate the deep emotion that stirs within me into a visual statement that can transmit these feelings to others. I plan to record and share my unique perspective in several ways to provide a rich experience.
My project consists of four parts each building upon one another.
1) Collage Works: The degenerative decaying effects of time prominent in the architecture and scenery of Sharon Springs and the immediate surrounding region have inspired me to begin a series of collage works. These pieces will become the basis for an open edition artist book. A copy of the book will be donated to the Sharon Springs' library. One major collage work is going to be donated to the Sharon Springs Historical Society. The artworks will be shown in an exhibit along with the following materials.
2) Photo archive: A graphic archive of photos of the various mineral spring buildings will provide another way of experiencing my perspective. I am using vintage cameras as well as digital cameras to help reproduce the Victorian mood. Special color filters and medium film format contribute to the unique photos that I am taking.
3) Short Films: A series of artistic short films will provide another dimension to express my thoughts on the town. The collage works and photos along with additional footage taken with my DVD camera become the basis of several short animated movies.The movies will be copied to DVD, and will accompany the artist book. The films will be shown at the exhibit along with the original collage works.
4) Website: A virtual exhibit where the art inspired by Sharon Springs would be available not just to the local community, but also the global community. The entire ensemble of collage works, photos, and short films will be displayed online and shared.
I have been awarded a grant by the Tri County Arts Council, here in Montgomery, NY for this project. Works online will be updated here on Magikglasses as they are finished. When the grant money has been recieved, a new domain will be started to realize all of my creative objectives.