Walrus on the Delaware (Photography traditional collage and digital editing)
In the grips of a major cold spell one winter near Trenton New Jersey, the Delaware River reminded me of the frozen Arctic at the North Pole. After analyzing the image, I immediately thought of adding the walrus and created this humorous photo collage.
Hip Hop Life Saving Station (Hand Tinted B&W Photograph Digitally Edited)
This humorous visual anachronism* was created by digitally cutting and pasting a 1980’s Boom Box and “Bling” chain over my Beach Haven, New Jersey (ca.1900) hand tinted black & white photograph. The U.S. Life-Saving stations (1885-1915) were manned by volunteers who protected life and property from shipwrecks off the coast of New Jersey.
*anachronism: something that is out of place in a certain time
Dreamtime at Ayers Rock (Photography, acrylic paint and collage)
The photograph was taken in The Northern Territory in the center of Australia. According to Aboriginal culture Dreamtime is the period in which life was created. The dreaming and it’s stories are linked to the people & their spiritual ancestors. I cut and pasted kangaroos hopping towards the sky to give the piece it’s surrealistic quality. The artwork is further enhanced through a photo assemblage on the ground and the addition of acrylic paint over Ayers Rock and the early morning sky.
Olmec Head and Fortress (Photo of the tunnel at San juan de ulua Fortress, Veracruz and a photo of the Colossal Olmec Head from the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology, Mexico.) Digitally edited
The original photograph was taken at the Castle of San Juan, Veracruz Mexico. Built in 1535 this large complex of fortresses and prisons overlook the seaport of Veracruz in the Gulf of Mexico. I felt that this photo, although interesting on it’s own, needed a simple artistic addition. While visiting the Museum of Anthropology in Xalapa later on my journey the inspiration hit me. The colossal Olmec heads where originally discovered in 1862 in San Lorenzo, Veracruz.
THE LAST OVATION FOR THE MICK
B&W Photograph, Hand Tinting with Collaged Elements
Mickey Mantle was a a baseball legend that in the late 50’s and early 60’s became my childhood hero playing on my favorite team. This tribute began as an original black and white photograph taken at the 1994 “Old Timer’s Day Game” at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. I later selectively hand tinted the skin tones of number 7 using Marshall photo oils. The layout also includes a 1963 Topps Baseball card (childhood collection), a 1968 Mickey Mantle Day Button (gifted to me) & a photo I shot of both Mantle’s Cooperstown Hall of Fame Baseball Achievement Plaque and the Centerfield monument in Monument Park at the stadium. The original black and white turned out to be “The Micks” final raise of his cap to his appreciative fans as he passed away a mere 18 months after the image was taken...
Hindu Melody (Traditional photo-collage, digitally edited)
The collage focuses on the life of rock legend George Harrison and highlights his spiritual awakening & devotion to Kristna* Hinduism. Musically he picked up the sitar which is a stringed instrument of the lute family and popular in northern India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The 1st pop song to feature sitar was Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), issued on the Beatles' Rubber Soul album in December 1965. With this sitar part, George Harrison became the first Western musician to play an Indian instrument on a commercial recording.
*Kristna is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one of the most popular and widely revered among Indian divinities.
