I earned an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1984, with a background in photography and painting. I received a traditional training in studio art, and for many years produced and exhibited large-scale painted photo murals in galleries and museums throughout the United States. But since 1991 I have worked at a major research university, which has had far-reaching impact on my creative practice. Specifically, it has allowed me to engage in more speculative 'research' into emergent artistic practices. As a result, I have spent the last several years exploring electronic media, web-based practice and audiences, virtual reality, and the intersection of literary and visual culture. This work has been exhibited at venues in North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. Below is a highly abbreviated chronological sampling of things I have created, work that I consider definitive of my interests.
projects
FLAGRANTWORLD.net :: september 2010
is a self-assembling, database-driven poem, painting, song, performance. It reflects a continuing interest in new narrative forms, and the intersection of artmaking and code writing.
The themes that drive FLAGRANTWORLD are those that have always informed my work: fear and longing, wonder and empathy. [See TEDx talk: FLAGRANTWORLD]
Ninthletter :: 2003 - 2010
is a collaboration between the School of Art+Design and the Creative
Writing program, this project explores the boundary between literary
and visual culture. It exists in two distinct forms: as a magazine
published semi-annually and as a website that features narrative
work not supported by the technology of ink and paper. I was a
founding editor, and served as the art editor for the magazine and
as the content editor for the website. The magazine is distributed
nationally and is carried
by such illustrious independents as St. Marks Bookshop in New
York's East Village, Quimby's in Chicago, and Green Apple Books
in San Francisco. The magazine and website have received over 20 major awards for both their design and content.
the
place :: 1994 - 2001
was one of the earliest experimental web art sites, described by
the New York Times as "a web classic". It was also
featured in the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, Print magazine,
and numerous books on electronic art. Now part of the permanent collection of the Walker
Art Center.
print photography :: 1982 - 1992
my interest in photography always veered towards the painterly,
with a special interest in narrative and a fascination with
the human figure. All the work represented here incorporates
some form of manipulation, mark-making, or painting. The scale
of the work varies from around 10"x10" to murals that are 9'x12'.
awards
Ninth Letter: Council of Editors
of Learned Journals, Modern Language Association, Ninth Letter
selected as "Best
New Literary Journal”, 2006.
Ninthletter.com: South-by-Southwest Music and Culture Festival (SXSW). Ninthletter.com was selected as a finalist in the “art category” of the SXSW Interactive Competition. The SXSW Web Awards continues to focus on digitial innovators who push the boundaries of creativity in the online world, 2005.
University Scholar, one of the highest distinctions awarded to faculty based on professional accomplishment, 2000.
Artist Residency Fellowship, Rockefeller Foundation, Bellagio Study Center, Como, Italy, 1998.
Fellow, Center for Advanced Study, UIUC, 1996.
Artist Fellowship, Illinois Arts Council, 1994.
Artist Fellowship, Art Matters Inc., New York City, 1990.
Visual Artist Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts, Washington D C, 1986.