The irreverent Journey of an At Home Artist.

2011-04-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

Just Announced: 2012 Show schedule

My work is mostly informed by my curiosity in the human condition specifically in regard to cognitive processes and perception. Through my current project Overcoming Prototypes: Breaking the Barrier of Functional Fixedness I seek to comment on the mind’s predisposition to categorize objects (experiences, people, ideas) into ridged constructs, that are largely dictated by social ideologies, surreptitiously assimilated, and independent of introspection. It is a common occurrence that when these ridged constructs are challenged the consequence is fervent discord. Emboldening a contentious push back against those who seek to affect transformative change within society. Fueling a cyclical process where majorities openly conspire to rationalize intolerance and the use of oppressive force, to prevent the minority from overcoming their lack of perceived station within a socially ordained determination of limited entitlement and usefulness. This body of work represents my personal journey to avoid the entrapment of such prototypical biases, which hold firm an unforgiving perceived reality. To peer through the haze of predetermined potential, and experience reality with an ever evolving worldview, guided by tolerance, acceptance and the realization of infinite possibilities.

Lost in Translation

My process is guided by the realization of unperceived usefulness, observing objects without regard to the limits of their purpose. Rather than employing traditional camera lenses, my photographs are achieved by modifying found objects and mounting them to the camera. The objects themselves present a willful interpretation of the subject, uncomplicated by the consideration of focus, depth of field, or direction. The work assumes the homogeneity of the manufactured camera lens as suggestive of ordered thought operating within the confines of restrictive social constructs. The utilization of found objects serves as a metaphor for the individual, unencumbered by the contrition of a mass consciousness. Celebrated rather than chastised for being a separate and unique entity. The variable acuity, translucence, and angles of refraction mimic the natural drive to maintain selfdom in a culture which requires relative uniformity. As such the work seeks to bring attention to the predilection of the individual to coalesce within a rigid paradigm. Advocating for a level of introspection significant for creative growth and expressive freedom, to let go and accommodate the unpredictable rather than strive to control it.

holi

My intention to apply titles to each series serves as an admission that the mind is largely representational and that the drive to confine our realities is immutable. Grouping similar works together signifies my acceptance that objects will forever seek to be defined based on an interpretation informed by a combination of factors, including but not limited to ideology, outward appearance, application, and operational capacity. To this end in choosing titles, I draw inspiration from the grouping as a whole assigning a label that best represents the changes that the completed work has imbued in me personally.

Holi -- A Celebration of Color

2010-08-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

The title for this series was inspired by the Hindu festival of Holi. Held in the spring holi is celebration of triumph over evil and the sowing of new life. The streets are flooded with revelers throwing colored powders and colored water at each other. Although only for the day, past transgressions are forgiven, inhibition is tossed aside, as is the sense of impropriety. The work seeks to challenge the viewer to contemplate overcoming protype based biases, to let go and accommodate the unpredictable rather than strive to control it. Each piece is purposefully elusive with regard to process and medium, leaving the viewer to struggle with the task of defining the work that has been laid before them. This obscurity seeks to bring attention to the predilection of organizing objects within a rigid construct, exposing a level of functioning that occurs tens of thousands times daily without notice.

Lost in Translation

2010-04-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

Love

Innocence

Awareness

Mortality

Justice

Allure

adhesion

Aesthetic

Fortuity

Logic

Maturity

Substance

Sight

Advocacy

War

Ghost of You

Sneak peak:

2010-01-31T18:07:00.000-08:00

LOST IN TRANSLATION: Now showing @ The Laughing Pint 3531 Gough st. Baltimore, Md 21224

AWARENESS

LOGIC

SUBSTANCE

FORTUITY

MATURITY

HISTORY

WAR

ADHESION

JUSTICE

Definition is guided by perception, perception is guided by experience, experience is guided by definition. As a result of this cyclical process our realities are designed, built, torn down, rebuilt and so on. My project Lost in Translation is a visual exploration of the differences in the way we interact with the world. The resulting images celebrate the uniqueness of several home made lens designs to create an individualistic experience.

Citizens on Patrol; when communities band together for the better; a work of progress.

2009-11-19T16:25:00.001-08:00

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Impermenance

2009-04-14T23:43:00.000-07:00

Upcoming show: at Sky Lofts in Highlandtown. Opening Sept. 10 2009 For more information visit Art in the City

The Impermanence series is an exploration of Viparinamadhammo (the Nature of Change). Impermanence is undestiny, the freedom to change, and the liberation of never being set in stone, there is no thing immune to transformation. Just as the river that Heraclitus could not step into twice, and Plato not even once, our realities are in a constant state of flux. The realities captured in these images each subsisted for one sixtieth of a second before collapsing out of existence forever. Impermanence is the third installment of my Soundscape project, to create these images I photographed a mixture of corn starch and water as it was agitated by a single frequency of sound.

Stillness

2009-01-09T10:23:00.001-08:00

My Stillness series is a celebration of the peace our backyard pond brings to all of us. My children spend countless hours staring quietly at their reflections and the fish swimming about. The soft rustle of the iris leaves blends well with the sounds of the pond. In stronger winds our entire back yard comes alive with the peaceful sounds of nature often drowning out the city sounds of sirens, traffic and helicopters.

Wishing you the calmest of holidays.

2008-12-23T12:43:00.000-08:00

ENTROPY

2008-12-03T07:52:00.000-08:00

Fall Color

2008-11-09T20:30:00.000-08:00

Highlandtown images

2008-10-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

In the City

2008-10-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

Serpents Breath Politics

2008-09-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

Rocky Mountain High

2008-09-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

Defenders Day at Northpoint

2008-08-31T18:52:00.000-07:00

a heart in the sky a force on the ground

2008-08-30T00:34:00.000-07:00

Antiquing with John

2008-08-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

A Boy and His Dog

2008-08-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

Today we traversed mountains, explored the ruins and found the treasure. We battled aliens, and discovered a new frontier. We played race the cheetah and lions den. We found a new fort and defended it against the mugluk. We were superheros, space fighters, firemen, and captains. Best of all, at the end of the day we were just a boy and his best friend.

O Highlandtown

2008-08-09T22:12:00.000-07:00

It was just a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Someone got new furniture, the rest of us got a fire hazzard and rat condo

2008-08-06T22:09:00.000-07:00

Every trash day a little old man comes to the corner of our two alleys with a small dustpan and broom. He sweeps up all the little bits that have fallen out of the rat-torn bags and deposits them into one of the empty bins. This is how our neighbors thank him for keeping the allyways clear.

parenting lesson #763

2008-07-30T23:43:00.000-07:00

time in a bottle

2008-07-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

It seems like yesterday Thing 2 would lie about quiet and unobtrusive, waiting patiently between feedings and changings. Her happiness was determined only by the happiness of those who surrounded her.

Now that she is a vibrant toddler, she is actively injecting herself into her environment. Aquiring new wants and needs daily, many of which seem to be discovered by observing what is in Thing 1's hand.

To Thing 2 such things have become that which life is made of, and to remove those possesions has become an afront to all that is human. So it goes with the word No as well, even when directed at Thing 1, that unspeakable noun can bring the wrath of Miss Bunny Temperton to full force.

I have a feeling we are in for a rough year two as the terribles set in. It's best in my opinion for us to brace ourselves and run the subversion scenarios by the book. Chapter 1 the mall meltdown.

TTV in the Park

2008-07-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

Took some time to bring out my contraption and take some Through the Viewfinder shots.

Good times at the Highlandtown Farmers Market

2008-07-12T22:56:00.000-07:00

Huge beets, fresh produce, comic books, local art and screen painting, top it all off with steel drums tinging out all your favorites and you've got the opening of the Highlandtown farmers market on saturday.

After spending 3 days at my parents house to celebrate the 4th and my Dads b-day I have come to the official realization that I do in fact need a maid

2008-07-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

We had a busy weekend running around and enjoying not being responsible for the cleanliness of the house. For me its quite relaxing when the children's attention is spread amongst four people, as it means I'm getting hit in the nuts less. The boss and I took a much needed break from Thing 1 and Thing 2 to attend the Brunswick artist market where the Guild has a table for us to get geeky and sell prints. Of course when we returned it was back to the grind, making dinner with Thing 1 hanging from my neck, sweeping the floor with Thing 2 hanging on my leg, vacuuming while Thing 1 follows behind me training Thing 2 to carefully crush goldfish crackers, and fine art of crumb spreading.

Baby Signs

2008-07-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

More
Above is a picture of Thing 1 signing for more, though eventually it also became the sign for please. Currently Thing 2 also employs sign language to communicate her wants and needs, as a result of this practice neither of our children experience the frustration of "trying" to get the point across.
Children have the capacity to conceptualize wants and needs long before they are able to develop words and phrases to communicate them fully. This is where Baby Signs come in, by employing sign language to communicate, children are easily able to convey many feelings and needs. This has the potential to greatly reduce frustration, and tantrums in your child as their needs can be addressed quickly and with more accuracy. While the reduction of frustration may be the primary benefit, many secondary benefits can be associated with Baby Signing. Many children exposed to signing, before and during the development of speech, experience an easier time socializing and increased interest in books and reading. Although the link above directs you to a commercial Baby Signs site, it is not entirely necessary to purchase a program, if you are driven and creative enough you can create your own system of non-verbal communication to reduce frustration and foster a strong communicative bond with your child. Click here for a more in-depth and well balanced review baby signs, which includes views from skeptics.

Happy 4th

2008-07-04T08:16:00.000-07:00

Happy July 4th everyone. I'm excited about getting some new fireworks shots for this year. I'll be doing some composites to create some fantastic images, check back soon. There might be a phtoshop tutorial in it for ya.

Meet Thing 1 and Thing 2

2008-07-03T01:15:00.000-07:00

Meet my 3 year old Thing 1.
He is rambunctious, independent, and headstrong. He is an endless fountain of absolute amusement and total frustration. A whirlwind of energy he can take a house from zero to messy in under 3.5 seconds.
This is my 1 year old Thing 2
She is curious, quiet, and an absolute lovebug, often content to sit in a lap with a book. Constantly on Thing 1's heels, she is studying hard at making trouble, with her help he can make a mess in 1/3rd the time.

I am what I am

2008-07-01T19:40:00.001-07:00

day 12
Originally uploaded by leadfumaster

I am a caregiver, husband, father, disciplinarian, dishwasher, floor cleaner, lunch maker, and potty taker. I am the bringer of sleep, comfort and endless pounce-able joy, the deliverer of time-out, boo boo butter, band-aids and sicky pops. I am the water boy, the towel boy, the sauna boy, and the pool boy. I am the back rubber, foot rubber and bath runner. I am the postal service, the reminder service, and the wake up call. I am the driver, the video store, and the grocery getter. I am a stay at home dad.