When your number’s up   1994 
Acrylic on canvas, spinning frame of wood and leather  46 x 38”  
 
   Cow’s ears are tagged by farmers to keep track of them for immunizations, inoculations, and ultimately, slaughter.  This cow has the number 31 in her ear, and the idea of this painting is that when the wheel hits that number, her life will be over.
   Thus understood, the little orange tag becomes a poignant memento mori, and each cow going on about its life becomes a beautiful metaphor for mankind’s persistence in the face of our own inevitable demise.
   Unlike cows, humans, of course, are aware of their own eventual demise, and even though most of us are not thinking about it everyday, we do still live with the certainty of death and the uncertainty of when it will happen.
   The idea of this painting is that we should embrace our own mortality and use it as a motivator for living and enjoying each day.  Go ahead, spin the wheel of fortune, play today, seize the moment.  Frame tragedy with whimsy, and enjoy it all.