Elephants have a high level of intelligence and are well know for their interesting behavior. They are quite often seen grieving over the loss of family or friends and at the same time become rapt with the bones and tusks of the deceased.  There are even legends that circle this behavior. It is said that the living carry the tusks and bones to a mass grave site and that sick or terminal members instinctively travel there to live out their final days. Quite close to a ritual that many humans perform upon death across several cultures.

Elephants are massive creatures that can be found quite elegant and dexterous. As I am fascinated with the monolithic size and complexity trees, machinery, and man made structures, can possess, I am quite enamored with this quality of elephant too. How can a creature with an appendage capable of up rooting the mighty tree be so docile and yet so compassionate?  They both remind me of people that I have known throughout my life and they also remind me a lot of my country.  

In my work, I use the elephant as a symbol much like others have in the past. At first i didn't understand why i was so draw into these organic forms. I have worked in an industrial setting for almost 20 yrs and have seen the change in the American landscape. The great and powerful society we have constructed for more than a century has started to decay. The abundance of offshoring, the disregard for our our great technical achievements, the "punishment" or condescending treatment of the middle/working class is starting to show. I want to be clear that I do believe in capitolism and the "invisible hand" that balances. I just feel it is important to pay someone for their work.

So I will now set forth, much like some of my highly regarded influences, in documenting my vision of this time in our country's history. It is my hope that I will be able to set this aside in the near future and not spend my lifes work on this subject. Only time will tell.

The first major piece in this body of work shall depict part of a Hulett ore unloading machine that resides, in a pile of scrap metal, on Whiskey Island near my home town of Cleveland, Ohio. Due to politics, greed, and abondonment this iconic piece of our county's industrial history may never fully be preserved for future generations to reflect upon. I find this to be unfortunate and have been struck with a restless desire to help in the preservation by drawing attention to Huletts. Many committees have been formed, many meetings have been attended to try to find a home for and reconstruct one (maybe two) of these massive machines. There just doesn't seem to be enough awareness or interest on this subject to generate the funds needed. I hope that in the creation of this painting I will spark enough interest in people who see it to spread the image across all networks along with the message that "its not just the steel, its what the steel represents".