AdzArt

The seed was planted many moons ago. Growing up in Philadelphia, a big rock 'n roll town, I attended many concerts including Grateful Dead shows. I remember seeing tie-dyes and thinking that I like the idea, but "if I were to do it...". While still in high school, I started to practice dyeing little squares I cut from old sheets, which I coined "Dead Ragz". Trial 'n error only - no internet back then.

For the next few years I kept it up, & I worked for a traveling show which exposed me to a variety of art, in addition to showing me the rest of the country. That lead me to New Orleans, a cornucopia of soul & creativity, where I resided for many years. There I developed my Tie-Dye and also collaborated with mask, hat, & costume artists. Eventually I was recruited by Zahdan, dyer extraordinaire, to help produce tie-dye for his French Market shop. With him I learned some new techniques, also this type of production line gave me the opportunity to practice & fine-tune my best selling designs thru repetition.

Currently I do my work & live year-round in The Wildwoods, NJ (previously my Summer only haunt), a barrier island on the South Jersey Shore. In generally, my procedure is to fold the design into the blank white piece often with many accordion-like pleats, or twists, or crunches, then I use rubber bands to hold it all together while I dye it. Many times I'll use tight string to hold the design in place - this is a completely different process with a completely different outcome. I'll apply all of the colored dyes by shooting them on with squeeze bottles - one at a time & all in one sitting. Later the piece is washed heavily until its completely clean. I'll finish it up with my logo signature.

I enjoy working from a large palette of techniques that I have accumulated over the years. I tweak & refine my Tie-Dye designs & color combinations constantly. I do many designs, and each piece I dye is treated differently to get it just right. They spin off one another & they are always evolving. Although I am disciplined with my work, I don't want to control every aspect of it. I think this is vital. The space that I don't control is what has always enabled my Tie-Dye to grow over the years - and that's actually where the real magic occurs! This allows me to see different effects - good & bad - that I didn't plan, then I can choose to expand on the idea or avoid it. If the idea is a keeper, I'll toss it in my toolbox. And if I don't like it, I'll try to remember what I did, so I don't do it again.

My designs come to me more as an abstract feeling or idea. I don't keep recipes for my designs - there's nothing written down. I think about it - its essence & all - then I do the Tie-Dye more or less as one stream of consciousness. I liken it to telling a story or playing a song - there's always an opportunity for improvisation & embellishment. It comes so natural to me now. Every one is new & full of surprises. And with the encouragement & support of folks from all over, this work never gets old. Enjoy!