1 the young person
Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 08:39PM
Phil was born in Washington, D.C. in 1951 and raised in Kensington, Md. by artistic parents. His extended family had already spawned generations of painters, dancers, artisans and writers who saw the beauty in the world and wanted to share it with others.;)
Phil was also special. His keen intelligence was drawn to world history, theatre design and the burgeoning counter-cultural movement while still at Walter Johnson High School.
;)
He briefly attended the University of Maryland focusing on philosophy and the Chinese language, before taking off to experiment with a sixties communal life-style in Boulder Colorado. Phil soon returned to Maryland; began studying painting at the Maryland College of Art and Design in Silver Spring for just a few months before being de-railed by the unrecognized inception of Schizophrenia.
;)
He moved to Frederick for a while, looking for the quiet of a country life, before unhappily realizing he needed the support of his family in Kensington. A time of upheaval, suspicion and pain descended on him and the people who loved him as they worked to regain
;)
clarity, health and well-being. It was like living in constant death, looking into shattered mirrors while fighting an unknown enemy.
Phil produced serigraphs and early gouache paintings during this time. However, it was also during this time that mental illness first took hold of him; he set fire to the bulk of his work.
Reader Comments (9)
Please add your comment here, either in response to Phil's work shown, or to add something that you remember about Phil through knowing him. Thank you for sharing your part of Phil's story.
I love the catalog of these pieces, especially the miniatures. His work has such a beautiful use of space, line and color. Thanks for your effort to memorialize it!
Cynthia.....his mind: insight into questions and wonderings of various constructed realities as well as his imaginary and rational dreams , myths are all visual narratives he has drawn, printed and constructed are priceless ! This is a visual autobiography....on a Van Gogh level of intense desparation to absorb, describe the pain and the love of searching for the right visual expressions for his thoughts and feelings. It is my hope that you will continue to work on this body of work as a catalog and find an institution for its acquisition. What a treasure you hold...and what an opportunity for a reputable institution to warrant such a body of work.
I thank Lindsey for thinking to send it to me .
Warmly
Deta
Action
Each time I visit this site I see something new or in a different way.
Each piece of Phil’s work seems like a Journey into another time and place.
Thank you for your comments. They are so encouraging for two reasons: first of all, I can see that the blog finally works, which was not the case when I first opened this web page. SO! YES!! Most importantly, though - each of you has deep and separate experiences in 'reading' art and artifacts; one as a relative who knew Phil and his work over many years, and two of you as impartial viewers - an anthropologist/artist, an experienced teaching painter. You're new to my brother's art, and never met him or me ...and yet you value Phil's work highly. It means so much to help me keep going in this compulsion I have to keep his work alive and to share it with those who can see what's in it. PLEASE SHARE THE LINK TO PHIL'S PAGE to all you think would understand it and ask them to comment and pass it on!
THIS WEEK! Benefit Auction through Asheville's Flood Gallery online NOW! - HURRICANE RELIEF Fundraiser (100% to Puerto Rico) https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/puerto-rico-hurricane-relief-art-auction-3261 [COPY & PASTE LINK]
CHECK IT OUT SEE SIX OF PHIL'S pieces...buy to support a very good cause, or just donate.
NOTE!!>>>Bidding ends on November 18th with a concert, and auction at the Flood Fine Arts Center at 2160 Hwy 70, Swannanoa, NC.
The auction was a success: well attended, good music, and raised over a thousand dollars. Phil would be pleased. All six of his pieces sold to good homes! YES!!
the Point in Between - exhibition of Phil's work showing in the FLOOD Gallery in Black Mountain
through MAY 2018 until June 3. OPEN every day from 10am to 6 pm except closed Wednesdays.
stop by and check it out.
Thank you Cynthia for guiding us through the exhibit at Flood.
Phil was a prolific genius.