Nuclear

For many years, I did artwork reflecting my concerns about how we humans have been excessively depleting the earth’s resources and fouling our air and water. Then, the triple meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants happened in 2011. I realized that in addition to our polluting of the earth by greenhouse gases, we also unleashed a problematic destructive force with the creation of nuclear power.   I began a study of nuclear energy which originates from the splitting of uranium atoms. The dangerous situation in Japan, which has yet to be cleaned up and has displaced thousands of refugees, needed to be highlighted in some way. As a result, I created some artwork about Fukushima. I found that by doing this, I became even more concerned about the dangers of nuclear power and nuclear proliferation. 

My next journey took me to the source of nuclear power – the atom. It is by splitting the atom found in uranium that nuclear energy is created. So, I did a series of paintings showing some uranium rocks. This was followed by a series of heads, some of which depicted the Radium Girls who died as a result of ingesting and painting watch dials with radium. It is known that radium is the most radioactive natural element, a million times more so than uranium. 

Ishikawaite Crystal 38”w x 30”h Acrylic on canvas 2019 This artwork is painted on a loose canvas. It shows a piece of radioactive crystal from the Topsham, Maine.

Ishikawaite Crystal 38”w x 30”h Acrylic on canvas 2019
This artwork is painted on a loose canvas. It shows a piece of radioactive crystal from the Topsham, Maine.

Liebigite Crystals 30” h x 30”w Acrylic on canvas 2019 This artwork was one of the last ones I painted depicting various minerals with radioactive elements. I actually enjoyed painting the colors and the refracting light on the crystal. This Lieb

Liebigite Crystals 30” h x 30”w Acrylic on canvas 2019
This artwork was one of the last ones I painted depicting various minerals with radioactive elements. I actually enjoyed painting the colors and the refracting light on the crystal. This Liebigite comes from the Schwartzwalder mine in Colorado.

Nuclear Bullseye 24” x 24” acrylic on canvas I did this painting to emphasize the glow of radiation in a water tank. You can see the nuclear fuel rods extending into the tank. They can act both as a coolant and moderator.

Nuclear Bullseye 24” x 24” acrylic on canvas
I did this painting to emphasize the glow of radiation in a water tank. You can see the nuclear fuel rods extending into the tank. They can act both as a coolant and moderator.

Nuclear Rods 24” x 24” acrylic on canvas 2019 The nuclear fuel rods in the water tank act as both a coolant and moderator.

Nuclear Rods 24” x 24” acrylic on canvas 2019
The nuclear fuel rods in the water tank act as both a coolant and moderator.

Schroekingerite 9”w x 12”h acrylic on a panel 2018 This is a radioactive mineral. I painted this in a manner to show how Schroekingerite would look under a SW UV light.

Schroekingerite 9”w x 12”h acrylic on a panel 2018
This is a radioactive mineral. I painted this in a manner to show how Schroekingerite would look under a SW UV light.

Seven Nuclear Heads 12 ½”h x 9”w acrylic on mannequin heads 2019 I painted 11 heads referencing in different ways the nuclear story, with the final head depicting what one could call last person standing — starving as the result of a nuclear wint

Seven Nuclear Heads 12 ½”h x 9”w acrylic on mannequin heads 2019
I painted 11 heads referencing in different ways the nuclear story, with the final head depicting what one could call last person standing — starving as the result of a nuclear winter.

Shinkolobwe 30” x 30” oil on canvas 2019 Uranium from the Shinkolobwe mine in the Belgian Congo was stockpiled by the US so that it could build the atomic bombs that were dropped on Japan in 1945. The Shinkolobwe mine was the source for nearly all

Shinkolobwe 30” x 30” oil on canvas 2019
Uranium from the Shinkolobwe mine in the Belgian Congo was stockpiled by the US so that it could build the atomic bombs that were dropped on Japan in 1945. The Shinkolobwe mine was the source for nearly all the uranium used in the Manhattan Project. (BBC report August 2020)

Starvation 12 ½”h x 9”w acrylic on a mannequin head 2019 This is the final painted head showing my interpretation of the last person alive, yet starving, as a result of a nuclear winter.

Starvation 12 ½”h x 9”w acrylic on a mannequin head 2019
This is the final painted head showing my interpretation of the last person alive, yet starving, as a result of a nuclear winter.

 Fukushima

Plastic Bags 8”w x 6”h Pen and Ink on paper 2015 This is the first artwork I created concerning the triple nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power reactors in Japan on March 11, 2011. I was not sure how I would approach the topi

Plastic Bags 8”w x 6”h Pen and Ink on paper 2015
This is the first artwork I created concerning the triple nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power reactors in Japan on March 11, 2011. I was not sure how I would approach the topic and decided to initially draw some of the millions of plastic bags containing radioactive soil dug up in the remediation efforts.

More Plastic Bags 24” x 24” Acrylic on Canvas 2015 This artwork was the second in my Fukushima series. I moved from pen and ink to paint to create this piece. The filled plastic bags which currently number 16 million — some of which are leaking an

More Plastic Bags 24” x 24” Acrylic on Canvas 2015 This artwork was the second in my Fukushima series. I moved from pen and ink to paint to create this piece. The filled plastic bags which currently number 16 million — some of which are leaking and none of which returning evacuees want.

Dead Bird in Plastic Bag 24” h x 24”w Acrylic on canvas 2015 The interior of the millions of plastic bags filled with radioactive soil resulting from the nuclear disaster in Fukushima contains many items — including dead birds. I painted this a

Dead Bird in Plastic Bag 24” h x 24”w Acrylic on canvas 2015
The interior of the millions of plastic bags filled with radioactive soil resulting from the nuclear disaster in Fukushima contains many items — including dead birds. I painted this artwork in a sort of glowing green, hopefully giving a feeling of toxicity.

Fukushima Sorrow 24” x 24” Acrylic on Canvas 2015 This red colored image created itself. I started this painting by making another one of the million plastic bags filled with radioactive waste from the Fukushima nuclear power disaster in 2011.

Fukushima Sorrow 24” x 24” Acrylic on Canvas 2015
This red colored image created itself. I started this painting by making another one of the million plastic bags filled with radioactive waste from the Fukushima nuclear power disaster in 2011. The bag became a receptacle of sorrow — with a tear dripping down one side. It spoke for itself.

Fukushima’s Dead Landscape Diptych each 24” x 24” Mixed Media on Canvas 2015 This piece ended my focus on Fukushima. The devastation continues with contamination of the humans, animals, soil, air, and water. At this stage, the cleanup of the ho

Fukushima’s Dead Landscape Diptych each 24” x 24” Mixed Media on Canvas 2015
This piece ended my focus on Fukushima. The devastation continues with contamination of the humans, animals, soil, air, and water. At this stage, the cleanup of the hottest radioactive areas might have to be done with robots — and the final solutions might never be found. Meanwhile 1.25 million tons of radioactive water continues to build up in leaking steel storage tanks, and there is talk of releasing the water into the ocean. I used fluorescent paint and collage in these haunting artworks.

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