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I grew up in New York City on Roosevelt Island and currently reside in Woodside, Queens. I studied the visual and performing arts vigorously throughout my childhood and went on to major in theatrical scenic and lighting design. Shortly before dropping out of grad school I had returned to photography something serious and abruptly altered my path by spending the subsequent decade mastering my use of the camera. I hocked my trade and talent as a means of nominal financial sustenance by designing lighting and painting scenery throughout the bowels of Off-Off Broadway, Off-Broadway, some TV and Summer Stock as well as national tours with stage companies and later spent six years sporadically traveling with a Jazz sextet all the while taking advantage of those opportunities to define myself as an artist. Additionally, I have a long history of teaching
the arts and as an experienced educator that too has become infused with my creative process. The interactive nature and discoveries
made while engaged with my students has transformed my own work and taken it in new directions. In 2007 I founded the photography
program at the Harlem Children’s Zone / Promise Academy along with partnerships with the community centers of Lincoln
and St. Nicholas. Courses included both dark room and digital instruction exposing students to a diverse range of styles and
techniques while roaming the streets of Harlem. I frequently photographed during class using my DSLR as a teaching tool; they
used manual K1000s, developed their own negatives that were either scanned ( Minolta 5400 and printed on Epson 3800 ) or projected
in the darkroom; lots of shadow grams too. While not teaching I often documented numerous events and community outreach programs
and the all around life of the HCZ. Since February of 2008 I have been teaching studio
arts and photography to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for AHRC. My unique connection and ability
to bring forth latent and exceptional talent within this population has lead to a strong and complex body of work in assorted
media (plaster, wire, spray paint & photography) that is itself most worthy of mainstream exposure. Over the years I have made
sporadic yet valiant attempts at exposing my work to the public at large with some minor successes and odd confrontations
with all sorts (cops, other artists, citizens) but to date my exhibition history and professional achievements, outside the
realm of theatre, remain quite modest.
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