This nostalgic collage is crafted on a base of Baltic Birch and is titled, “Shall We Play a Game”. This work is composed from vintage game pieces drawn from all the games we played as children.  The work is centered by a clay poker chip from the Sands Casino in Las Vegas where the Rat Pack made its name and which no longer exists.  The chip sits atop mandalas that I laser cut surrounded by a ring of dice. As we move outward you can find game parts that are easily recognized from Scrabble, Bingo, Monopoly, and Dominos. Some others are harder to identify including the triangular Contact pieces, and the caramel colored Mah Jong tiles. The cards are Austrian Piatnek playing cards featuring beautiful imagery and the wood checkers are Halsam checkers from the 1960’s.   I hunt for unique pieces from the past and assemble them into complex collages of texture and color creating  “Nostalgic Art.” Although many pieces are vintage, others I create by hand at my Baltimore studio. Each piece is positioned strategically to create a pattern that draws the work together. Planning takes several months for a new design. Assembly begins in the center and I work outward with construction taking place over several weeks.  The completed pattern is then sealed using multi-layer epoxy resin, which creates shimmer and protects the work.  The resin also allows you to trace your fingers over the different textures, for both a visual and tactile experience. Each work of art is handcrafted and, although they may appear similar, no two works are exactly alike making each a unique statement for your surroundings.