Coolidge propelled my work into the spotlight. Recognizing the unique potential of Shoosty Bugs, she proposed a solo show. At the time, I was mas- tering vector drawing. Vector drawing allows me to create scalable, professional works of art. These were perfect for the show Jennifer was suggesting. Jan 2023, I flooded The Mills Gallery in Orlando with large-format prints of giant bugs covered with the world’s patterns. On the show’s final day, Zach Zacharias, curator at MOAS, made it to the show. His enthusiasm led to a relationship with MOAS and the opportunity of a lifetime to share my life’s passion with you. I want to thank the team at MOAS for giving me all the nurturing an artist needs to work with a muse- um. While working together, I learned that this op- portunity is extremely rare. They have never done a solo show for an individual artist. Your artwork extends far beyond insects, though “bugs” is the central theme at the MOAS exhibit. What do you find to be so inspiring/compelling about bugs? I love making art. It hardly matters to me what the theme is; I always find a way to put my twist on it. This show is not just about bugs. It is about patterns of the world and, ultimately, about the extent of the human imagination. How can anybody not admire bugs when they are not causing mischief? Bugs represent the widest range of diversity in the animal kingdom. The more I work on this project, the more I learn about bugs. Here are some of the highlights: • Silk is created from a gland near the mouth of the caterpillar. • Pollinators are crucial to life on this planet. Most flowers depend on bugs to pollinate them. • The white silk moth Bombyx Mori only eats white Mulberry leaves. This is the same plant used to make paper in Japan! The moth form does not poop or eat. Its sole purpose is to mate.
• Ladybugs bleed a smelly fluid from their knees when upset. • If you collected all of the Leaf Hopper Bugs in the world, the weight would equal all the hu- mans. • Ants don’t have lungs. They breathe through their bodies. • The Dragonfly has a 95% kill ratio, the highest in the animal kingdom. • Dung Beetles are the strongest animals in the world based on weight and effort. What is your favorite piece in this exhibit? I like them all. Each has a story to tell. I especial- ly like the main piece in the show. It comprises five panels, 20 feet by 12 feet: The Japanese Beetle, Scythian Horned Beetle, Stripped FireBug, Ameri- can Cockroach, and Ukrainian Megascolia. All of them were created in 2024 and printed on 18mm Silk Twill. It was a collaboration with the MOAS team. They pushed me to new levels I didn’t realize I had. What is the range of styles of artwork you create? My main themes are: Shoosty Bugs - World patterns applied to insects. The Art of Music - Speed drawings of musicians while bands are playing. Shoosty Landscapes - Post-processed plein-air landscapes. Conceptual Art - Taking ideas and mashing them up. Indigenous Art - Studying ancient art is at the core of my learning. The Holocaust - If you want to understand the val- ue of Freedom, read a book on the Holocaust. World Patterns - I actively collect patterns to use in all of my work. Where can you see your work? Floating Manatee , 40” 36” Oil on Canvas, 2023 -
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