1    “American Symbol”          1998          
Acrylic on canvas           71 x 75”

This piece predates 9/11, and represents the kind of work I had been doing: using animals as symbols for human conditions.   In this case, it’s an American Bald Eagle, flying high over the purple mountains being attacked by smaller birds.   In researching the bald eagle, I found it very interesting that they frequently get attacked by smaller birds or flocks of smaller birds.   In this painting, each of the foreground attackers is an actual bird, native of a specific country that might have any hostile feelings toward the U.S.   (Include key)   As a result of these frequent attacks, we sometimes lose sight of our goals, or drop our prize.   In this case, the fish being dropped is a native North American species, the Muskegee, or Muskie.