The Players (selected pieces). variable sizes. Acrylic Ink on canvass. 2005 – 2007. Because the work was part of my street vending, not all paintings were documented before being sold and certain pieces were painted and sold multiple times. Carl Gustav Jung. 91cm by 122cm – 36” x 48” inches. Acrylic Ink on canvass. 2005 George W Bush & Osama Bin Laden diptych. 91cm by 122cm – 36” x 48” inches. Acrylic Ink on canvass. 2005 Hunter S Thompson. 91cm by 122cm – 36” x 48” inches. Acrylic Ink on canvass. 2007 SubComendante Marcos v.2. 41cm by 61cm – 16” x 24” inches. Acrylic Ink on canvass. 2006 George W Bush. 91cm by 122cm – 36” x 48” inches. Acrylic Ink on canvass. from left, 2005 and 2010 Art festival in Winnipeg. 8 paintings from The Players series on display while I paint a new one. 91cm by 122cm – 36” x 48” inches each. Acrylic Ink on canvass. 2008 Street vending in Montreal. 5 paintings from The Players series on display while I paint a new one. 91cm by 122cm – 36” x 48” inches each. Acrylic Ink on canvass. 2007 Dundas Square Toronto. Working on the George W Bush & Osama Bin Laden diptych and selling other works. 91cm by 122cm – 36” x 48” inches each. 2005
“The Players” series of portraiture paintings evolved out of a street vending practice over the course of 3 years. It was done in the spirit of Agitprop art, focusing on individuals who had a significant impact in shaping society such as authors, philosophers, presidents, revolutionaries and economists. As an artist I wanted to directly engage with people in public spaces to get a sense of what people were curious about in Toronto when it came to politics. It was an opportunity to challenge my ability to research and synthesize information so as to engage with the complexity of the world in a productive manner. Most of the activity took place on the north side of Queen Street, east of Spadina where majority of the works were painted during the day time hours. I was there along with a group of other artists, each experimenting with different styles and mediums in the hopes of generating a living in the arts. It was a dynamic and exciting time which contributed to an intense and prolific period of creativity and has informed my practice since. The work also traveled with me to Montreal, Winnipeg and New York.
Selling works at the Waterloo Arts Festival 2006. Framed glass works are “The Players” sub-series “Holy Dollar Sign.” Reverse painted with acrilic ink on glass and spray paint. 2006 Selling works at the Waterloo Arts Festival 2006. Framed glass works are “The Players” sub-series “Holy Dollar Sign.” Reverse painted with acrilic ink on glass and spray paint. 2006 Drawing Jean Chretien meeting with Fidel Castro at the Waterloo Arts Festival 2006.