ENDANGERED SPECIES 1990-94

Since I started making art in the late 70’s, I had always drawn from my surroundings, my personal life, for my subject matter. But in the early 90’s, dismayed by the destruction of the planet, that was only just beginning to be universally recognized, I felt the need to make a statement to try and call attention to the issue. After researching both life forms and ecosystems that were being affected by the warming of the planet, I decided to make paintings of some of them.

How to make these works stand out and get the message across? I felt that separate from the religious association, the cross shape would connote both a sign of pain as well as a call to action. A plain rectangle would not be the “shout out” I was looking for. The cross indicates that this is not the usual, this is important, and attention should be paid! The title of the series is, “The Crosses We Bear”, expressing that the burdens of this degradation are universal.

Endangered Birds_oil on shaped canvas 44-1/2x32 (1993)

Disappearing Frog_oil on shaped canvas 22x20 (1993) Private Collection

Endangered Monarchs_oil + mixed media on shaped canvas 48x42 (1993)

Detail - Endangered Monarchs

Endangered Monarchs_ink on paper 16-1/2x14-1/2 (1993)

Endangered Cheetah_oil on shaped canvas 29x27 (1993)

Endangered Cheetah_ink on paper 14x18 (1993) Private Collection

Burning the Tree of Life_oil on shaped canvas 93x78 (1992)

Burning the Tree of Life_gouache & water color on paper 25-1/x21-1/2 oak frame (1992)

Cruxified Tree_oil on shaped canvas 90x59 (1990)

Oil Spill_oil on shaped canvas 80x84 (1992)

Detail - Oil Spill

Endangered Puzzle Sunflowers_oil on shaped canvas 22x20 (1993)

Endangered Peter's Mt. Mallow_oil + glitter on shaped canvas 15x13 (1993) Private Collection

Endangered Western Lily_oil + glitter on shaped canvas 30x22 (1994) Private Collection

Beautiful Giclee prints of these paintings are available here.

THE CROSSES WE BEAR

Presented by The Historic Christ Church Chapel, at Christ Episcopal Church, Middletown, NJ
Fall, 2022–Spring, 2023

Altar at night.jpeg

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