I believe that artists have an important role to play in changing the patriarchal world we live in. It is becoming increasingly clear that the present patriarchal military, social, political, religious and economic institutions we live under are no longer workable or sustainable. This is especially true for women who have lived under a patriarchal system, created and governed by men for the last 5000 years. This time period also marks the beginning of another important event—the dawn of written language and recorded history in 3100 BC. The confluence of these two events has affected the course of human history to the present time.

As a male, feminist artist I believe we are living at a significant turning point in human history. A monumental change is happening in regard to the status of women in Western and other societies worldwide. After millenniums of nearly universal patriarchal subjugation, many women now have the chance to visualize themselves in totally new ways and reclaim their inherent birthright. I believe the artist can play an important role in furthering this historical transformation. This is because the artist has the unique ability to create a visual image that can inspire viewers to reinvent themselves.

The seeds for this transformation are planted when the artist creates images that challenge women to examine their self-identity; that is, an identity that is not influenced by patriarchal definitions of what a woman is or should be. One way to get beyond such definitions is for women to become aware of who they were in pre-historic times: before the invention of written language and before such definitions and restrictions were invented by a ruling male class and codified into written laws.

It is now known from an abundance of modern archeological evidence that men and women in pre-patriarchal, Neolithic societies lived in a social system that highly revered women. My paintings are created with the intent of restoring that kind of respect amongst men and a feeling of self-worth amongst women.

To achieve such a balance my art tries to restore that part of the prehistoric Mother Goddess culture that honored women for their sacred, life-giving, life-affirming powers: powers associated with the moon and wild animals; qualities associated with art and aesthetics, dance and music, singing, chanting and ecstatic states of being.

I think one way this can be accomplished is to provide a visual connection to woman's primal roots: her ancient relationship to Nature, her awesome ability to give birth to life, her goddess based spirituality, and her psychic affinity to the Cosmic Powers, symbolically represented in my paintings as a Mandala image.

As an artist I wish to create a visual experience that lays the groundwork for a change in attitude. One that will allow women to feel confident that they have the ability, strength and resources to take control of their life. Ultimately, this can help us all become more whole and more human.

Both men and women, myself included, would benefit from a deeper respect and understanding of what it means to be woman in perfect attunement to her inner being.

I want to see women realize their intrinsic worth as human beings. I believe it is important that women see themselves as leaders and workers capable of changing the direction of the world we live in.