GALLERY 3 - Medical Mysteries

Egg Tempera on Gesso Panel - 16" x 12"

When I first exhibited this painting a woman approached me and said, “I hate your painting...and your painting is me.” She shared that she had a permanent colostomy and resented my romanticizing her situation. But in general, it has been viewed as a positive image. One viewer pointed out that the man’s head seems to rest directly over the woman’s heart.

The original egg tempera painting is available for acquisition - click here to inquire.

This image is available as an archival reproduction. 

Chinese Ink Stick on Gesso Panel - 15" x 12"

In spite of the trauma inflicted by the surgical saw, the arm of the patient is wrapped around the shoulders of the surgeon indicating their common humanity and the intimacy of surgery. The painting was originally titled “Scene from Surgery II” but a gallery owner renamed the painting “Compassion.”

A black and white ink drawing is the traditional "underpainting" for egg tempera. However this particular drawing became so intricate that I did not want to obliterate the fine markings by applying color over it. Some day I hope to do a version in full color.

The original painting is available for acquisition - click here to inquire.

This image is available as an archival reproduction. 

 Egg Tempera on Gesso Panel - 15" x 12"

The surgeon and patient are both nude representing their common humanity. The scene also captures the intense, disorienting atmosphere of an operating room.

"Byzantine perspective" in which the picture plane is tilted forward, and the cross pattern in the background, are both devices typical of Russian icons. The green color was achieved by grinding my own pigment from malachite stone.

The original egg tempera painting is available for acquisition - click here to inquire.

This image is available as an archival reproduction.

 Egg Tempera and Gold Leaf on Gesso Panel - 15" x 12"

Most massage tables have an opening for the person’s face but the table in this whimsical painting solves the problem of crushed breasts and bellies.

“Total Relaxation” won first place in the Anatriptic Arts Expo in 1992.

The original egg tempera painting is available for acquisition - click here to inquire.

This image is available as an archival reproduction, greeting card and blank journal. 

Egg Tempera on Gesso Panel - 36" x 28"

 This painting is an homage to my friend Jack Walsh, who I met while working at the Haight Ashbury Free Medical Clinic. Jack was thwarted in his life-long ambition of becoming an MD and had to make peace with the title of PA (Physician Assistant.) But in the early 1990’s he moved to the island nation of Granada where he earned his MD. He was so proud to have achieved his medical degree, and had just started a residency, when he was struck with full blown AIDS. He moved back to his beloved San Francisco where he died 6 months later.

I arrived at the hospital soon after his death. The image is true to the scene I found – his dear friend embracing him and repeating over and over again, “Don’t go my friend, don’t go my friend.” As I was painting the figure, Jack’s body seemed to rise up. I felt it was a mistake and tried to correct it, but I was not able to lay the figure down in the bed. My lack of artistic skill resulted in the decision to embrace the spiritual metaphor of Jack’s spirit rising up from his body.

The original egg tempera painting is available for acquisition - click here to inquire.

This painting is available as an archival reproduction.

Egg Tempera On Gesso Panel - 40" x 36"

This is the second painting in the series, "Ways of Dying" a chronicle of the AIDS epidemic of the 1990's.

I was a research nurse conducting a trial of an AIDS medication. One day, my patient Tom said to me, "I am dropping out of the study, and I am dropping out of life. I'm having a going away party and would love if you would come." He was having symptoms of AIDS dementia and wanted control over how his life would end.

The party was amazing! People gathered in small groups, some crying - Tom comforting them! And  some laughing. Wine, liquor and other substances flowed. Flowers and candles filled every available space. The food was sumptuous, complete with a cake inscribed, "Bon Voyage Tom."

The plan was that whomever remained at day break would be present at his suicide. I had decided not to stay, but asked a friend of his to call me after. Two days later I received a phone call:

At dawn all the flowers and candles were moved into Tom's bedroom.  He lay back in the arms of his friend as his lover read him a "bedtime story." He then took the fatal dose of pills—he was asleep within half an hour—in two hours he was dead. 

The original egg tempera painting is in a private collection.

This image is available as an archival reproduction and postcard.