Wall Piece 7 Sculpture

The work in this series is inspired by several aspects. Our world is besieged and somewhat threatened by waste plastic. My choice of this medium ( Polystyrene specifically ) comes from wanting to do something artistically and conceptually interesting with it besides the practice of turning waste plastic into just another packaging product. John Chamberlain was also another influence on this series. I grew up looking at his work at The Albright Knox in Buffalo New York. Also Sam Gilliam was an influence as well. Plastic has such an incredible malleability under heat pressures that it is very rewarding to work with. My practice has been to hunt around Los Angeles and find Polystyrene pieces which I then clean, cut and heat with torches and ovens. Once a form is arrived at I re-clean the surfaces and then apply a gesso / matte spray coating meant for polystyrenes. This allows me to have a ground for standard oil paint which is then applied. The piece, after a year of drying is then sprayed with oil painters varnish. I have tested the durability of this process for about 8 years and the paint adheres perfectly. The plastics used are well adhered to each other as well. Personally I am so sickened by obscenities like the Pacific Garbage Patch that I had to make these as a small gesture to any remedy that can be had. Lemons into lemonade. Ugliness into Beauty. ( hopefully )