Artist’s Statement

Installed at Pirate Gallery in June, 1998, this room installation was a fantasy about merging genetic engineering and the science of "memetics."
The imagery was generated using large format printing, (an Italian made Océ 9800 plotter). The artist created two collages 18" H X 35" W as the concept for the installation. Utilizing the principle of "memetics" (cultural transfer), the artist appropriated images by Albrecht Durer, Grandville, Margaret Bourke White, E.J. Eyermann, Ed Hurwitz and Ralph Morse (plus some artists whom time has consigned to anonymity) in a fantastic exploration of biological and cultural evolution.The collages were digitally enlarged eight hundred percent and printed on seven hundred and twenty feet (45- 3 footx12 foot panels) of vellum. At the north end of the room, the artist built a seven-foot tall steel cage housing a vintage microscope and slide sheets with texts for viewing under the microscope.The South end of the gallery was painted a tomato red and hung with baroque frames holding images of "Dolly" the genetically engineered sheep, a mirror and an image of human chromosomes. Two framed prints of the originalcollages were hung on the southwest wall.A limited edition of these collages were printed on twenty pound cotton vellum in the original working size of 18"H x 33"W, and are available unframed to collectors, for $195. each.