The Sporozoan Suite: An Exploration of Perception
For over three decades, The Sporozoan has been more than a project; it's an evolving philosophy centered on the act of seeing. It hinges on the serendipitous moment when a viewer pauses, looks closer, and invests their time. In that instant, The Sporozoan takes hold, urging a deeper exploration—not just of the artwork, but of the viewer's own inner landscape. It's an invitation to confront the spectrum of human experience: joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, the duality of good and evil, masculine and feminine. The Sporozoan is a journey into the self, mirrored in the art.
Currently, The Sporozoan Suite unfolds across five distinct chapters, each a unique vantage point on its existence. These interconnected pieces engage in a visual dialogue, constantly evolving and hinting at the potential for new chapters yet to come.
Initially confined to the realm of "The Cavities" prints, it has built out into the five chapters I discuss here. The Sporozoan's influence has expanded, now permeating my paintings and drawings. After dwelling within my thoughts for so long, it has manifested in all aspects of my work.
The Sporozoan Cavities: Genesis
The Sporozoan Cavities is a suite of 16 intaglio prints, each a representation of The Sporozoan in its myriad forms. Its origin can be traced back to 1991 and an intaglio print titled "Robin." Robin, a figure drawing class model at Pratt Institute, was a compelling subject—a dancer with an exceptional physique. However, his incessant chatter proved distracting. One day, frustration led me to deconstruct him in my drawing, tearing him apart limb from limb. This act of artistic dismemberment resulted in a series of drawings, one of which became an intaglio print: a fragmented figure, a slab of meat with an open chest cavity. Unbeknownst to me then, this was the birth of The Sporozoan. It took nearly 13 years for the concept to fully coalesce, and it continues to evolve even now. The suite includes fifteen 24"x18" prints and one 24"x36" print. The plates are complete and proofed, but the suite awaits printing. Five complete sets will be reserved from the edition of 25.
The Sporozoan Swarm: Activating Space
"The Sporozoan Swarm" is a dynamic, ongoing installation. It's composed of torn intaglio prints, or "Elements", some bearing additional drawings, pinned to the wall in a free-form arrangement that activate the surrounding space, telling a visual story. A very small number of Elements are used in the activation of very large spaces. The emptiness of the space becomes just as important to the work as The Elements that inhabit the space. This interplay allows me to create a micro/macrocosum and a parallel with universal constants. The resulting lines and masses evoke forms found in nature, creating a push and pull through light and shadow, mass and line, depth and angle. The pins piercing the paper hint at insect taxidermy, addiction, and the complex interplay of pain and pleasure.
All of these things combined create not just installations of a myriad of Elements but also moments in time that catch viewers eyes differently every day they see the work.
History of The Sporozoan Swarm
"The Sporozoan Swarm" began in 2008 shortly after I moved to Seattle and was facing financial and personal struggles, including unemployment. I started creating this work as a direct response to those challenges, using the materials I had on hand—a portfolio full of intaglio prints that I commenced to tear down to create building blocks for something greater.
The physical construction of the Swarm involves mounting torn prints using dressmakers' pins. It started as a free-floating, site-specific, and modular piece. This portion of the project still exists just with less frequency. Over time, I began constructing dedicated "Sporozoan Swarm Containers". I handcraft shadow boxes to house and present the work. The frames are more than just a way to present the work. They provide a metaphor of how we all arbitrarily isolate ourselves through walls of trauma and or labels. .
The project has evolved significantly since its inception, growing through numerous installations in various locations, including permanent and semi-permanent ones. My intent for "The Sporozoan Swarm" is a dynamic and evolving work, continually reflecting my personal life experiences and passion for creating art, even when confronted with adversity.
Swarm Containers are a unique part of the greater Sporozoan Swarm, global art project. Each Container is a complete piece of art while also being a fragment of a vast, interconnected network. By owning one, you become one of many "keepers of The Swarm" and are not just acquiring a singular artwork rather you are participating in a shared, worldwide art installation.
Most custom Sporozoan Swarm installs are temporary public installatioins but I have installed free floating Swarms in private residences.
The Sporozoan Trophies: A Commentary on Value
"The Sporozoan Trophies" serve as a metaphor for art collecting at its highest level, where art often becomes a symbol of wealth. While acknowledging this reality, these pieces offer a subtle critique. Created from prints specifically made for this purpose, they are mounted on plaques, incorporating steel wire, string, rice paper, and pigmented resin.
The Sporozoan Shrine: An Interior World
"The Sporozoan Shrine" is a single, immersive piece—an interior space formed from woven intaglio prints. Within this space resides a sculpture, consisting of a table and two objects. This work is currently in development.
The Sporozoan Habitats: An Origin Story
"The Sporozoan Habitats" evolved from "The Swarm." I felt the larger installations needed an anchor, a central point of origin. Unlike insects, The Sporozoan spreads serendipitously, like spiderlings on the wind, casting its web, waiting to be seen, and then traveling on in the viewer's mind. The Habitat, then, is less a home and more a source—a source that is me, that is that day in 1991 when Robin's annoyance sparked an artistic transformation.