Regarding myself

I was born in Los Angeles but grew up in North Carolina where drawing barns in the countryside was one of my first art-making experiences. since 1987, I have operated in the San Diego/Tijuana border region.

After completing my graduate studies, I began making excursions across the US/Mexico border to investigate the cultural milieu of Tijuana. I was drawn to its bookstores, cinemas, souvenir shops, music clubs and public spaces. The result of this experiences was Keep On Crossin’, a multi-disciplinary project that humorously combined the guilty pleasures of tourist art with a pro-immigrant point of view.

Recently my paintings are focused on the iconic image of the palm tree and its relationship to the cultural and botanical history of California. The history of palm trees in California begins in the 17th century when Spaniards planted date palms on the grounds of their Catholic missions to evoke the Holy Land.

My favorite number is 5, and my favorite pass-time is practicing Tai Chi.