HOUSTON, TEXAS

Formulating the Male Figure

I have been an active member of Houston’s LGBTQ+ scene for over 25 years. As such, I wanted to create a series that embraced all the beauty I see in our community. I wanted to create a series that balanced and highlighted the inherent duality of being male in this society: masculinity and sensuality.

 

For this series, I looked to the past for inspiration. I was gifted a book with “cutting edge” homoerotic images from the 1940s through the 1960s. Why was this cutting edge? This was the closest some men could get to owning pornography.

 

As I skimmed the book, I saw flashes of color in my head, and immediately knew what this new series would look like. Formulating the Male Figure juxtaposes these iconic images against vibrant colors, abstraction, and mark making. Transforming the masculinity of the original photographs into elevated images that cause the viewer to step in and immerse themselves in the dynamic psychology of each piece.

 

Much like how each of you, the viewers, are unique in your own right, so are these pieces. All are original works of mixed media on Arches archival paper. I have never, and will never, create prints of any of my work.

 

In this month of Pride, I thank you for attending the show this evening. I celebrate each of you here tonight and want you to know that I see all the wonderful things that make you unique. As Judy Garland said, “Always be a first-rate version of yourself. Not a second-rate version of someone else.”