Most of my non-tattooing work takes place at the confluence of visual art, music, and storytelling. I use shadow puppetry and paper cutouts to animate on an overhead projector (or make crankies) using analog processes that utilize light and shadow.
I have called this arm of my art "River Teeth" after an essay by author David James Duncan. In it he describes the process of a tree falling into the river and decomposing. As it breaks down the heartwood and knots that are left sink to the bottom of the river and look like stones. He calls these remnants "river teeth." I consider stories and myths that have been passed down through time to be similar to these knots of wood that are preserved and yet changed through the passage of water and decay. You can find stills from various River Teeth projects and a link to the videos below:
You can see the rest of the animations and crankie videos here
Currently I am working on a collaborative production of 'The Journey Through Three Worlds’ – a new folktale' by A.C. Weaver. This original folk tale brings together mythical stories of Elyahu Hanovi with traditional motifs of Yiddish folklore. Drawing inspiration from S. Ansky’s ethnographies of Jewish life in Eastern Europe during the turn of the 20th century, 'The Journey Through Three Worlds' follows the quest of a young woman from the realms of the dead to the celestial gardens of the immortal – all to restore her friend's lost voice. The story will be accompanied by my papercut crankie and original klezmer music and is projected to be done in summer 2024.
I currently sell a collection of riso, screenprint, and woodblock prints at Sinking Sun Tattoo and at art markets in Portland throughout the year
