What is art?

A reinterpretation of Johannes Vermeer's "Girl With A Pearl Earring" made out of balloons.

It is never more obvious to me that I work in a peculiar medium than when I hear the words, “Wow! It’s just like art!” The implication, of course, is that it’s not ACTUALLY art. It’s only LIKE art. This begs the question, “What is art?” Should the choice of medium have an impact on … Read more

Backstage Earth

Drawing of a forest green humanoid creature sitting at a full wall of dials and gears that are used to keep the Earth running.

I’ve always felt like there was something just out of reach, a thread hanging loose in the tapestry of the world. As an artist, I’ve spent my life trying to pull at that thread, hoping to see the bigger picture—to understand what ties it all together, and why, in moments of stillness, it feels like … Read more

From Big Screen to Big Magic

Black and white line art Jack of clubs

It was the summer of 1988, just before moving upstate, from NYC, to start college at the University of Rochester.  That afternoon, my girlfriend and I had gone to see Big. Tom Hanks plays a kid trapped in an adult’s body, and there’s a scene that had us completely captivated: Josh and Mr. McMillan are … Read more

Secrets & Puzzles

Juggling jester with 4 balls in the air.

My performance career began with the art of magic—a craft built on knowing something the audience doesn’t. Magic, in its essence, is about secrets. But sometimes, even the magician is left surprised. I share now an incident that not only shaped my career but deepened my view of magic performance, because I was open to … Read more

A Whittle Accident with a Bear

Small bear whittled from a piece of basswood.

Anyone who’s ever visited a hospital emergency room knows the drill: the excruciatingly long check-in process, the wait for triage, and then the endless anticipation of seeing the right medical staff. But I’ve discovered a surefire way to skip the line: slice open an artery—yes, even a small one—and you’ll get expedited treatment. Recently, I … Read more