PAUL GAZDA

I approach art in the spirit of a modern day alchemist, fusing creativity, intellect and emotion into new perceptions.� My unconventional compositions and aesthetic choices grow from my love of artistic adventure and a desire to awaken our senses from the trance of the familiar.

In my art, I explore the interaction of concepts, ethics, language and symbols.� I take a bold and adventurous approach with my materials, using acrylic mediums in non-traditional ways, and adding photographs and household objects into the visual mix.

In place of traditional canvas, I use wire mesh (hardware cloth). The grid of the mesh functions as an armature for painting and assemblage, becoming an active component of the art rather than a passive invisible surface for painting.� The industrial, mass-produced mesh creates a tension with the traditional aesthetic role of fine art. The grid references the communication among the visual and conceptual components of the artwork.� The sturdy wire allows assemblage to be extended from sculpture to painting, while the use of transparent acrylic gel as a ground allows painting on both sides of the transparent �canvas�.

The mesh, however, is not an end in itself, but rather a means of presenting visually rich and thought-provoking concepts.� I hope you are moved by these works.� I hope they spark the ferment of new feelings and ideas.� It is their main purpose in life.