russ havard

i find myself drawn to desolate landscapes. while walking in a
clear-cut area or parking lot at dusk, a kind of peace intertwined
with melancholy exists. simultaneous feeling of damage and
anxiety are accompanied by a beautiful melody. the melody
prevails but not without the price of the garden lost. the
landscape left behind holds symbols of the experience. i
recognize these symbols intuitively—the process that alters
this outer landscape also changes the inner one. the surrounding
desolation becomes alive with new growth, from nature and
human condition. destruction cannot escape creation. the
delicate properties of watercolor, gouache, and paper
compliment my feelings of wistfulness about nature. while the
media and patterns make up the skin of my constructions,
the shapes generate specific meaning and provide a formal
platform giving the images and symbols clarity, dimension and
solidity. by making paintings and constructions, i take part in
the restoration process in both a physical and spiritual sense.

saccato 4 x 11 x 5.5

tomorrow and tomorrow 5.5 x 11 x 4