Beyond Bounds

Ed Clark has been referred to as “the lost abstract expressionist” and is less well known than contemporaries like Jackson Pollack. I first saw Ed Clark’s 1957 work Untitled at the Art Institute of Chicago. I was inspired by his willingness to break the plane of the canvas, to go outside the bounds, as well as by his bold use of color, use of shaped canvasses and strong brush strokes. I wondered what would happen if I started going beyond the bounds of traditional shapes, colors and techniques? The idea for this exhibit was born. 

I have experimented with different shapes, constructing pieces, rather than being confined to a traditional canvas and used brooms to apply paint as Clark did, in addition to brushes, blades and other implements.  

Like Clark, I also often work with my pieces on the ground, not an easel or wall. This allows me to apply paint differently and work in all four (or more!) directions at once.