“Daydream 12”. 2023. Oil paint on canvas with Augmented Reality features. 20 × 20 in.

Original oil painting previously featured in the Daydreams series at the LeQuire Gallery. The Augmented Reality features are accessible through the Artivive application, which recognizes the image, and plays a shifting version of the piece over the physical location of the work, shown through the app.

Artist Statement:

The grace of a bird of prey comes from their total control of self and surroundings. The sky is simply their dominion, which they survey with austere perception. It is no wonder that they’ve been held in such high regard by so many civilizations throughout history. (From the hawk as the symbol of Horus in ancient Egypt to the bald eagle iconography in the United States) On a personal note, the red-tailed hawk (shown across the middle of the piece) has always been a sort of sacred symbol in my family, and seeing one has always equated a visit from my grandma on my mom’s side.

With this perception in mind, these various birds of prey seemed the perfect totems for a work showing a mind trying to find peace. I like to imagine the holder of these thoughts with their eyes closed, and seeking stillness in the cerebral expanse. As they search, the clouds of thought strive for a definitive shape, pulling and straining upon themselves and forming a roiling cloud. However, despite the tumult, they still emanate a sense of quiet sanctity, as the effort is a holy one.