My initial inspiration in honoring both of these men comes from my interest in 1950's cultural icons James Dean and Elvis Presley and other music of that era. At a young age I used to watch James Dean movies over and over and was inspired by Elvis when I was playing music. When I was a teenager I became enamored to watch a recently released movie "La Bamba" in my Spanish class at Homes Junior High. The story depicts Ritchie Valens rise to stardom in the 50's only to be abruptly taken away due to a plane crash in 1959 that resulted in the deaths of the Big Bopper, Buddy Holly as well as Ritchie. This movie and their music continues to inspire me. Even though I was born too late to experience the 1950's I was inspired by the arts of that time and the rebellious nature that persisted. It was, to me, the birth of an idea that was new and fresh and it had caught hold of just about every teenager of that era. These artists of the 1950's were questioning authority. They were quesioning everything. Why should I do this? Why shouldn't I do that? This outlook brewed in me from a young age until now. As an artist and sculptor, why should I do things the way they have always been done. Could I try this instead? This has been my moto as I create sculptures, for clients and for selling at shows. Of course, there are certain rules and guidelines that we abide by but those probably had been tested at one point in my life. My desire to be different from all other sculptors is strongly rooted in my passion for the artistic rebellion of the 1950's. And Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady were the heart and soul of this attitude.
