artist statement:

The two longstanding forms of communication in western civilization are increasingly losing their distinctive characteristics. Contemporary culture progressively places greater stock in Image as the primary form of communication. The use of film, television, video, print media, and the internet has forced us into fast-paced states of communication in which we have little time to digest the underlying meanings of the images we see.  At the same time, the written Word continues to retain a viable role within this image-based culture.

This dual nature of communication has its roots in the European colonization of North America. With often northern, western, and eastern European Christians populating early settlements and states,  the amalgamation of Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and various Protestant theologies and philosophies created an imposing influence on American thinking. Therefore, the strong preference for the Word in Protestant Reformational and Puritan thought has equally been countered with the Image-laden practices of traditional Catholic and Orthodox religion.

This work investigates the tenuous relationship between Word and Image. It proposes that Word and Image are not opposites but essentially variations on a common theme. The imagery does not exist without text. It may incorporate text or be based in text, but the two are codependent. Informed by both semiotics and deconstructionist philosophy, the images reveal themselves as texts that, under a close reading, disclose additional layers and meanings. Both Word and Image are symbolic, creating subtle shades of meaning that are not always obvious upon first examination.

The interaction of the combined words and images produces a fullness not available in the singularity of each form. Interaction is a theme that runs throughout the work in various forms. It can be physical interaction, the reading of enclosed texts, or an analysis of the interdependence of both forms. In all contexts, the viewer is confronted with a certain expectation that his or her participation in the work is essential for full reception of its meaning.