I’m a multi-media artist, philosopher, writer and Pastor, working with mixed-media, photography, digital media, video and language exploring concepts concerning spirituality, metaphysics, culture and art making. In the ‘80s on Long Island, after attending NYU and serving in the ARMY, I began my art career as a sculptor. Returning to Manhattan by the late ‘80s (where I’d live until the early 2000’s), I taught myself two-dimensional work by studying Michelangelo drawings from a calendar I borrowed from my roommate. Mixed-media quickly followed and has since been my staple practice. Photography’s been integral to my studio work (and client work) for decades beginning in the early ‘90s at Columbia University where I spent over 11 years working in genetics. In 2019, photography finally developed into a stand alone medium in my oeuvre. Throughout my career, Graphic Design has played a vital part. As for The Spirit, it is the foundation of all I do and all I have to say. It is everything and about everything.
God:
God is the foundation of all things. God is my foundation. As of 2017 I am a Pastor, but of a unique sort, a hybrid of disparate elements formed into a unique spiritual essence which permeates all that I create and teach. To merely call me a “Christian Artist” is correct, but at the same erroneously marginalizes what is a vast constellation of concepts and truths inherent in my work that are universally applicable to all people regardless of faith or culture. For certain God is the most important part of my being, but not the only part.
Philosophy:
Concepts are the foundation and catalyst of all human endeavors, including the emotional arenas. I was born a natural philosopher and although I hold no degrees, I am one by design, by God’s intent and by a lifetime of vigorous study and practice. I’m an acerbic critic of all human endeavors and thought, searching for the essential truths in everything.
Art:
Art is the manifestation of my contemplations (God), rationalizations (Philosophy) and mastery of techniques over decades of tenacious work in multiple disciplines that are all self-taught. The astute will be able to decipher the DNA of my work regardless of concept, genre, subject, medium and so on. I’m a conceptual artist driven by ideas first and foremost even though I work fastidiously in multi-media as a craftsman. My work is also about art making and the endless fascination of various media when combined together. My concepts are varied and not all spiritually based, and it mustn’t be confused as always being overtly Christian. This is not an apology for being a Christian, rather it’s an explanation that inherent in my concepts are universal truths, applicable to all people of all faiths and cultures. They are universal human concepts and God’s laws and hence belong to us all.
Writer:
I’m an adequate writer that gets by well enough. I’m a writer because I write. Not all of my ideas are best served as visual only works. I’m also a screenwriter and a poet.
Pastor:
Serving God is my profession, both as an Artist and obviously as a Pastor. The most difficult part of being both is the confusion and biases caused by the combination of two seemingly opposed sides in one embodiment. To reconcile the two halves one must think of them as brothers-in-arms ultimately fighting on the same side, if by different means and methods. Above all, God is the most important of all pursuits regardless of profession or manifestation of faith. I am bound by purpose to God and it is my duty to introduce everyone to spiritual truths.
Final Thoughts:
To understand my work and the artist/pastor dichotomy one must perhaps see it from a birds-eye view before meandering into a series, a particular work or finally the details of that work. The work can be confusing and perhaps contradictory (a criticism I’ve had from the beginning), but it’s rich with concepts about the mystical nature of being.
Peace and God’s love…Robert