BANDS AND DRIPS

1976 - 1978

EARLY SYSTEMIC WORK

HORIZONTAL BANDS

During the mid 1970’s, I changed my medium from oil paint to acrylic paint.  I no longer wanted to paint like an action painter which I called “performance-based art”.  Instead, I wanted to use a system – a process that had a definite beginning and end.  I was influenced by my work in knitting, crochet, and bargello where specific choices along the way determined the outcome.   The grid was the underlying structure of these new paintings.  Using tape as a tool to block out areas of the canvas, I developed a process of creating different bands and layers that were impacted by my dripping activity. There was no absolute plan and there was an element of surprise which occurred when I removed the tape.

HORIZONTAL BANDS WITH VERTICALS

I continued to work with the grid as the main way of composing.   I introduced vertical bands which interwove with the horizontal bands - a form of weaving.  Some bands had drips and pattern, and others were solid elements.  I began to develop a clear method of working in layers placing bands on top of one another.  Many of these paintings were very large and some of these paintings were exhibited in a show at the SoHo Center for Visual Artists in 1977.