The First Photo Shoot Inside

So I had had this charmed run in Gallery World in NYC,

culminating in becoming something of the bonafide Art Star

at a reputable 57th Street gallery (MB Modern),

and I decided to drop out.

There were two reasons why:

The first was because galleries are not interested in the artist’s thought,

especially if it is controversial in any way,

as that complicates sales.

I started doing public art projects,

centered on my thought.

My website became my gallery of choice.

I launched it in 2001 with a live project,

(back when reality TV was just getting started),

by taking on what was the biggest and baddest dealer in NYC at the time (Mary Boone).

That project is still there in my projects folder,

along with a selection of the 100 or so projects I have done by now.

The other reason I dropped out of Gallery World, is because nobody spends hardly any time looking at a painting in a gallery.

They just walk around in them and leave.

Great painting does not give up hardly anything at a glance.

Every morning I walk into my studio,

look at the painting that I’m working on,

and it’s like I really can’t see what it is that I was so excited about the day before.

So I’ll sit down,

space out,

think about whatever;

and suddenly the painting will open up.

It’s like it will come alive.

I’m constantly seeing, maybe feeling, something new, something different in my work.

It’s almost like it will talk to me about whatever it is that I’m thinking about.

I think that my paintings facilitate thought.

One does not have to go to school in order to understand great painting.

It’s more like understanding great cooking.

All it takes is interest and exposure.

It’s like it is something that one easily falls into.

I think that this show is the new cutting edge when it comes to exhibiting serious art.

Back in the day, back in my day, NYC was the way to go, but not any more.

I think that Hometown is the way to go.

Exhibit locally.

Find places to place paintings, and leave them up for long periods of time.

Educate your public.

9. 16. 2025

To see better images of the individual paintings go to:

The Universe Series (link above) and Margaret’s Crosswalks (projects)

Read my essay “the white frames” for greater insight.

The Verona Public Library Show is an extension of The Montclair Project in projects. For greater insight, read the two essays at the end of that project, and go see other examples of both of these series at:

Diamond Cycle (just down Bloomfield Ave. in Montclair). Did you know that it is the first business in Montclair? Still in the original building.

The painting in the Copy Center will change every month, each being the next in the Universe - The Capitol Series. As I type this, the painting has changed, but the photo here has not.