May 2006- Click here to see the creation of this work.

I am still preparing for parenthood, so I decided to explore the parenting techniques of the Gods in paint. I have been hooked on Saturn (Cronos) since the first time I set eyes on Goya's "Saturn Devouring His Children". I have not yet seen this painting in person, but I imagine it truly is a masterpiece, regardless of its authorship (some believe it was painted by his son). A short time after, I discovered Rubens' version. Under the influence of these two paintings, I tried my hand at the subject when studying in Rome. It wasn't particularly successful, but it was a turning point for me artistically. That painting gave birth to a series of 24 small (14" x17") more-or-less black paintings. Now in regards to this latest painting, I think superficially it represents my clearing the way physically and emotionally for my child. I explored my relationship to my cat Bernini in the last painting and I felt the need to continue exploring my relationships with my pets further. I still consider my pets "children". I also identify with them personally. There are many qualities I admire in my dog Twombly (the one I am eating), however I feel I am much more like my other dog Cole (in the center of the painting). I am tougher on him because of this I think, but this is more relevant to my next painting. In another respect, I am devouring them to possess them because I am afraid of losing my relationships with my pets. But the urge to devour them should come as no surprise though. They are addorable doggies, and it certianly isn't odd to want to "gobble up" what you find cute or wonderful. I expect I will have some kind of oral impulses beyond kissing with my child (gobble, gobble). And, cuteness aside, there might be a tinge of fear and jealousy in the loving nibbles I might give to nose, toes and cheeks. I don't think my child will be out to get me like Zeus, but I am anticipating some strange feelings come this October. Aesthetically I departed from the story by giving my filicide a specific setting, however this specific site is still keeping with the original setting of chaos. I chose this particular backdrop because it places the act in relation to my community. This site is on the outskirts of campus where it is little visible from the main buildings, it is therefore a suitable place to get rid of things. This gives the scene a greater sense of urgency/tension because I am obviously discoverable, however the only witness is my dog Cole. I am not sure if I am going to eat him next, if I am doing this for him, or that I am even aware he is there. The site is also where grounds-keeping stores many of their raw materials. These piles are the building blocks for walls, roads, horse jumps, flower beds, cozy winter fires, etc. This site is the perfect mix of creation, destruction, growth and decay.