I'm a portrait painter, best known for depicting controversial figures in government and the financial sector. The New York Observer once called me the painter of record for Wall Street. And while my style was originally described as a Jackson Pollock/Chuck Close fusion, it has now evolved into its own thing.
What makes my work unique is the fact that I invite hands-on public participation, usually by exhibiting a portrait al fresco and inviting passers-by to write something on the background. Once three or four hundred messages have been inscribed, the paintings evolve in two ways: First, the background fills in in a painterly way -- what was once white now resembles impressionistic brush strokes (this sometimes requires some squinting). Second, the paintings become snapshots of moments in history.
A recent portrait of Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman is a good example ...
But I am currently in what I call a neo-Lichtenstein phase and this is a recent work from that series ...
General Approach:
Upon receiving the statue, the plan is to prime it so that it is easy to write on, then exhibit it in a variety of indoor public places between January and April of 2013, inviting public commentary. Off the top of my head, possible venues might include the Farmers' Market; Daisy Bakers; Market Books, the location of the Sponsoring Business, the BID office, etc. Just prior to the due date, the annotation process will be closed and I will finish the work in my studio.
It is reasonable to assume that not every inch of the sculpture will be covered with writing. Likewise, some annotations might contain inappropriate language, etc. Those sections without writing will be painted by me in an Uncle Sam-appropriate manner. Inappropriate commentary will also be painted over or modified by me. I'll then seal the work with a layer of varnish and it will be ready for display.
I can imagine an argument against publicly displaying my individual sculpture for annotation prior to the April unveiling of the entire group. My response would be: a) if positioned properly it could add to, not detract from, anticipation of the April 23rd event; b) the essential nature of what I do involves public participation. I think the people of Troy have a lot to say, positive and negative, good and bad, and I'd love for my work, like an artichoke is to mayonnaise, to be a vehicle for those voices.
Links/Blogs etc.
If you would like to see some media coverage of my work, here are a couple of links:
Today Show
PBS NewsHour (this is a long one -- I'm just part of a larger Lehman Bros. story)
Wall Street Cheat Sheet
If you Google Geoffrey Raymond artist there is a good deal of additional material.
I regularly update two blogs. The first is a catalog of my works and their current prices. The second is a highly-personal chronicle of my quest to become the greatest portrait painter of the 21st century (for which I apologize in advance).
www.annotatedpaintings.blogspot.com
www.yearofmagicalpainting.blogspot.com
Thank you for the consideration. Should you have any questions, I can be reached at 347 469 0703 or gvraymond@gmail.com.
Geoffrey Raymond
