Artist Statement

Hal has participated with development teams as a seasoned architect that have cleared the way for new innovative projects on one hand, and worked for preservation efforts for restorative measures on others. As an emerging artist intrigued with the layered history of our urban environment, the inevitable changes in the face of the city are in fast-motion when compared to the glacial evolution of technique in painting and art.

Social, economic, and environmental issues underpin the reality of place; contaminated landfill as waterfowl habitat, industrial relics that house the homeless and the mussel-filtered water of Lake Michigan contrast Milwaukee’s past with it’s contemporary condition.

The interplay of the urban environment and natural landscape generate inspiration to accentuate and enhance these gestures. Plein air adventures are favorites, nudging a freestyle process into impromptu experiences on and off the canvas. The creative process is an invitation to take time and ponder the significance of place. That attention is brought forward with an evolving artistic capability that is tempered by the tools at hand and the weather of the day.