I guess one could say that my aesthetic is the result of my 80s childhood. Anointed by the 50-degree surf off the Oregon Coast and inspired by an older brother who imparted his love of rock music.

The discovery of surfing in my youth aroused a life-long fervor and instilled a bond with surf, nature, and human interaction that has influenced much of my work. Perhaps it was the breathtaking cold of the northwest Pacific Ocean that we fearlessly embraced without wetsuits. Or perhaps it was the relatively desolate nature of the sport in Oregon at the time. My friends and I felt like pioneers carving through a rugged seascape or astronauts riding the wave into new galaxies. Much of my surf art continues to capture this youthful fascination with the ocean, the newfound excitement, and the endless passion for exploration.

From Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage to David Lee Roth’s Eat ‘em and Smile, the album covers-as-art that adorned my brother’s walls led to a deep admiration of the music as well as the artwork… and, I admit, to many hours of lip-syncing to favorite records. As I have “matured,” so has my appreciation for the pop-rock subculture, and this Genuine Imitation Gallery showcase is the debut expression of my love for the ear-pulsing medium. The abstractions of influential pop culture icons and albums spanning several eras and genres are a representation of how media and public perception of stars can be skewed from the reality of their personas.

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