Let it be known that I have completely earned my way in life and in Art. Through twists and turns, slowdowns and blockades, I have always kept my focus on the path ahead, driven by unwavering positive expectations. I am incredibly fortunate to have had parents and grandparents who instilled in me from an early age that anything is achievable if I believe in myself and pursue it with passion and persistence. Thankfully, those invaluable lessons took root in my heart, where they will remain for the long haul.
In June of this year, I graduated with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film and Television from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Now, I’m determined to find and secure an exciting creative position in the film and entertainment industry with one of the leading organizations in the field. Soon, the right opportunity will present itself, and I’ll be ready to immerse myself (mind, body and spirit) into the creative process without doubt or reservation. I’m here to make art that has meaning and adds value to society. I believe it’s my higher purpose in life. All I need now is to find the right creative team to join. I’d be thrilled to work for an organization that appreciates me for the skills, talents and experience I possess. When that door of opportunity opens, I’m certain to thrive in my new creative home under the sun. In absolute confidence I can attest, I will continue to earn my way in this life, by making art that comes straight from the heart.
Brief Artist’s Biography – My Transition from Fine Art and Commercial Sculpture into the Art of Filmmaking
In an effort to keep this post brief, I’ve included a select number of pictures to spark your interest! If you’re excited to explore more amazing artwork and discover the fascinating processes behind limited-edition sculpture castings, I invite you to visit the new page on this site! Check out the VISUAL ART PORTFOLIO page to enjoy the wonders of Moore Art.
In 1969, I proudly won my first award for art at the age of six. The thrill of the award and the joy of recognition inspired me to embark on a lifelong journey of artistic exploration, fueling my dream to “become a famous artist” as I grew older. Many believe we choose our life paths when we enter this world, and while I may not have understood that as a child, over the past forty years of striving, struggling, and persevering, I’ve come to wholeheartedly embrace this belief. Today, I view purposeful creativity as my higher calling—my ultimate reason for being here. Expressing myself through the creation of visual art feels like a natural extension of who I am.
Yes, that’s me. I’m third from the left with the wide-striped shirt. And about fifty-five years after I won that award at Hope Elementary School in Hope, RI, I was awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA.
Whether I’m creating custom art for a client, manufacturing a product for an international corporation, or using all of my skills and talents to express a powerful artistic vision from within, I always feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be, doing precisely what I’m meant to be doing. Without reservation, I embrace the life of an artist, as I truly can’t imagine living any other way. As I’ve navigated through this vibrant journey in the visual arts and skilled labor industries, I have consistently prioritized the enrichment of knowledge and hands-on experience. During the 8+ years I spent in college classrooms and studios, my intention was always to remain open-minded, stay present, and soak in as much wisdom from my professors and classmates as I was able to absorb. In my younger days, during moments of uncertainty, I questioned my own motivations for pursuing my passion for creation. Despite some naysayers in the peanut gallery suggesting that I’m “… just looking for attention,” I know that isn’t the case. I’ve realized that attracting attention to artwork requires much more energy and persistence than the pleasurable act of creating it. I treasure the process of making art so much that promoting it often feels secondary. At this stage in my journey, I’ve come to understand that I study, practice, and create art as an adventurous way to explore the truth of who I am. When I’m immersed in creation, I feel more like myself than at any other time. And so, I joyfully persist.
During the eleven years that I was Owner and Creative Director at S.M.art Castings & Sculpture Services, LLC and Moore Art Expressions, I was constantly learning new art production processes and materials. I was also learning critical business management skills. In retrospect I see that the most valuable lesson I learned is that I am just as comfortable leading as I am following when it comes to the creative process.
Recently, I’ve been asked by both close friends and new acquaintances about my journey to the Savannah College of Art and Design at this timely moment in my creative exploration. I firmly believe this has been the long-term plan all along. It was by intentional design that I earned my first college degree at the Ringling College of Art and Design in 2000. My decision to apply to their BFA program in Computer Animation back in 1996 was a strategic move aimed at building momentum toward the live-action movie industry. Following the groundbreaking success of films like Jurassic Park and Independence Day, which showcased extraordinary VFX sequences, the computer animation industry was booming, and I was eager to secure my front-row seat on this exhilarating ride. While my true passion lay in creating practical SFX—such as model making, monster crafting, and lifelike animatronics—I recognized that mastering computer art would significantly enhance my transition into the movie model shop.
In my fourth year of studies at the Ringling College of Art and Design, I was required to develop and produce a thesis animation project from concept through completion. The project required the understanding and implementation of nearly all of the same principles and considerations used to produce live action films, including casting actors (character design and development), production design (digital props and environments), cinematography (virtual camera placement and shot design), lighting considerations (virtual light systems), sound design (digital sound effects and music score), and SFX (in this case VFX particle systems for flames and explosions). Learning and utilizing Maya (a premiere computer animation software) to produce my RCAD thesis project was an extraordinary experience. The RCAD animation program’s guidelines only allowed us 60 seconds of computer-generated animation with title sequence and end credits included. I learned that 60 seconds is a lot of time when you have to fill it with dynamic imagery and a compelling storyline. Above is a still frame from “Element of Desire”, my thesis animation about a pyromaniac’s obsession with fire.To the left and to the right in this composition are single frame renders of environments that I designed and digitally modeled in Maya for “Buster’s Christmas Wish”, a 3D animated Christmas Special I worked on at Aston Worldwide Entertainment after graduating from RCAD. The central image is from a 3D Computer Modeling class project I rendered while at the Ringling College of Art and Design.When Aston closed down unexpectedly, I did some freelance work for a few weeks while I was in job search mode. These are custom digital designs (3D models) I created for StarDuster’s Workshop. They were designs intended to be sculpted in real-world materials, molded and cast in fiberglass. These themed fiberglass “skins” would then be retrofitted onto pre-existing replication devices (injection molding machines). Some of my readers may have seen these replication devices out in the real world at zoos or theme parks. A child puts their money in the machine, and they watch while the machine produces a small commemorative wax/plastic sculpture by way of injection molding.
Life in the arts has provided me with invaluable lessons in flexibility and adaptability when faced with the unexpected. After an enriching two years in the computer animation field and witnessing the closure of the animation studio where I had been working, I enthusiastically redirected my career toward fine art sculpture production by mastering the fascinating process of lost wax bronze casting at Bronzart Foundry in Sarasota, Florida. With years of experience in the skilled trades, working with metal, wood, gypsum, plastics, and other materials, I quickly flourished in the foundry environment, excelling at shop work using industrial-level tools and techniques to transform bronze ingots into breathtaking end products. In just a few months, I became proficient in smelting and pouring, welding, grinding, finishing, patina application, and the installation of bronze sculptures, ranging from charming tabletop pieces to impressive monumental multi-figure works. I also enjoyed the distinct honor to be the sole patina artist on the first four editions (out of five) of the late Robert Rauschenberg’s bronze sculptures titled The Ancient Incident (Kabal American Zephyr). During the two years before his passing, I visited “Bob” on multiple occasions at his amazing studio on Captiva Island, even sharing in a champagne toast with the iconic artist. While catering to artist clientele and collaborating on their projects, I also devoted time to my own innovative designs, continually inspired by the journey ahead.
The late Richard Frignoca (owner of Bronzart) gave me permission to set up an ad-hoc studio at the back end of the warehouse space. It was in this space that I sculpted the original clay models which would become my first body of work in bronze. The white conic shape on the far right is the humble beginnings of “Providentia”. For new readers of this blog, you need only scroll to the top of this page to see the finished bronze – Edition 1/5. “Providentia” was also featured in the SCAD thesis film “Third Eye from the Sun”. I will elaborate on that point later in this post (below).
After a 6-year stint at Bronzart, once I had mastered the skills and processes of bronze sculpture casting and there was no further room for advancement, I decided to make a bold move by leaving the foundry and establishing the first of two commercial art sculpture businesses I owned and operated in Florida. I founded S.M.art Castings & Sculpture Services, LLC in Sarasota in 2008.
S.M.art Castings quickly earned a reputation in Sarasota as a gathering place for creatives. The studio evolved as a gallery venue for art events, while also being a production facility for custom sculpture production, art castings, fabrications, and mold making services. During the slow months, usually in the summer when all of my clients returned to their summer homes in the north, I would work on the signature sculpting projects that I couldn’t afford to focus on when there was client work in the shop.My brother Kevin and I curated a show featuring our personal work in 2011. The show was billed as “Art in the Industrial Park” and it included client projects on display in the back section of the studio. The paintings of nudes throughout the gallery area, the “Nude on Coca Cola” sculpture, and the sinker cypress (wood) piece in the foreground are Kevin A Moore’s work. Kevin was also the photographer for this promotional gallery image.
Those first few years in business were an undeniable trial by fire. While my studies at Ringling College had provided valuable insights into the commercial art industry, I quickly realized that solid business courses beyond art school would have been invaluable. Looking back, I see that a deeper understanding of the challenges of running a business might have made me pause before embarking on this particular leg of the journey. Strategically, when I launched S.M.art, I made a decisive choice to rent a space near downtown Sarasota. Upon discovering the warehouse in the Sarasota Industrial Park, just three miles from the city, I seized the opportunity with confidence. Five years later, to optimize my overhead and fuel smart growth, I relocated an hour south to Port Charlotte, where I found industrial spaces at roughly half the cost per square foot. With this move, I also embraced a name change, opting for something more creatively expressive: Thus, Moore Art Expressions was born.
They refer to it as the “Sunshine State” with good reason! Our creative team at Moore Art Expressions was happy and industrious in Port Charlotte, Florida.We worked on projects in a wide range of materials and applications, so it helped that we had multiple distinctly facilitated workspaces. Keeping a clean work environment was critical to avoid cross-contamination of materials, but it also kept us healthy and mindfully inventive in our space.Mold making and casting limited editions in Forton were two of our bread-and-butter processes at MAE.
We also participated in many community art events and hosted a few of our own. This event was held at Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota.
For readers eager to explore the exciting art projects we created at S.M.art and MAE, simply scroll up to the main menu and click on the VISUAL ART PORTFOLIO button. You’ll find a treasure trove of photos and descriptions showcasing the wonderful processes behind our work. As I pen this post, I’m thrilled to share that I have even more inspiring content to add to the new page, and I can’t wait to update it very soon to support my job search efforts!
A Natural Progression into Storytelling Through the Art Form of Motion Pictures
I put together this trio of images taken from the production of my thesis film to use as a headliner for my LinkedIn profile – https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmooresmartcastings/ . From left: Behind the scenes photo taken on the backlot at SCAD in the alleyway (Gotham section). My friend and classmate, Damian Standen played the role of Maynard, and I played his Uncle Neil. The central photo is a still from the final film – Neil is trying to convince his nephew to take over his work on a conscious energy device he’d invented. On the right: Maynard comes out of a trance state initiated by the device and rejects Uncle Neil’s offer.
As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been transitioning from static visual art (fine art) to the dynamic realm of film since my teenage years. My ambition to enter the movie industry has intensified with each passing year, particularly following my transformative experience at the Ringling College of Art and Design. Since graduating from RCAD, I have consistently monitored the college for the introduction of an MFA program in film, though they still only offer 4-year degrees. I proudly taught as an adjunct professor for two semesters at RCAD during the 2011-2012 academic year, where I aided in the development of a course to equip computer animation students with essential real-world sculpture techniques and materials.
In early 2022, as the world was fiercely rebounding from the challenges of the pandemic and I was navigating the tumult of emotions following my mother’s passing, I took an invigorating moment to dive deep into the incredible journey I had forged in the realm of visual art. In reflecting on my path, I felt a powerful sense of fulfillment for all that I had accomplished, yet an undeniable yearning surged within me for one last artistic adventure before this chapter came to a close. My beloved Mom, always my loudest cheerleader, inspired me to strive for greatness and ascend to new heights. She passionately encouraged me to follow my bliss, consistently reminding me, “Scott, you’re a talented artist. I believe you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.” In her loving memory, I made the bold decision to embrace her words, testing my limits to see if I had the tenacity to go the extra mile. I resolutely committed to believing in my own abilities and talents as I embarked on the exciting journey of returning to college to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film and Television at the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design.
These six images are still frames from my first film titled “Return to Hope”. It was my portfolio submission when I applied to SCAD in February 2025. I was accepted and awarded a Presidential Fellowship to the college. This is a link to the film on my Vimeo channel – https://vimeo.com/1094080450?share=copy#t=0 Be sure to watch the other videos on my channel while you’re there and please leave a comment if you’d like to support my creative endeavor.
In September of 2023, I confidently entered into a transformative program of study at SCAD, culminating in my graduation on May 29th of this year. Throughout the past two years, I encountered challenges that tested my resolve, but each experience only strengthened my determination. I was steadfast in my commitment to take 3 classes per quarter, enabling me to graduate in just six quarters (2 years). While I absorbed a wealth of knowledge in a short timeframe, I relished the exhilarating growth it brought! The Film and Television program at SCAD is intentionally designed to be intensive and rigorous, pushing me to excel. In my second year, I took great pride in writing a 15+ page thesis research paper connected to my thesis film. Writing, directing and acting in the “Third Eye from the Sun” was an extraordinary learning experience that significantly enriched my skills. I wanted the film to stand out as an “Art Film”, so I designed and fabricated the conscious energy device that was central to the storyline (see photos below). With a dynamic team of over 40 creative minds collaborating on the project, the energy and support we shared were truly remarkable, even as we wrestled with the challenges of requiring additional help both physically and financially!
Logline:Maynard must face his deepest fears before he can take over his dying uncle’s life work and inherit the conscious energy device he’s invented.
“Third Eye from the Sun” is based on an ongoing true story. Uncle Neil, the role I embody in this short film, draws from a fictional alter ego that I have been meticulously developing for nearly 20 years. Although, it definitely hasn’t felt like such a lengthy process, because time seemingly passes swiftly when one is entirely engaged in the creation of art. While working at Bronzart in 2006, I began the practice of reading (and re-reading) literature focused on achieving success in both business and life. A client at the foundry generously gifted me Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, which subsequently led me to explore numerous other works by authors outlining similar strategies for wealth accumulation and prosperity. These business success books ultimately directed me to metaphysical texts and literature centered on conscious awareness. Explorations concerned with the manifestation of desired outcomes, the laws of attraction, and related themes increasingly replaced the fictional novels that had occupied my reading time for most of my life.
Still frame from the opening sequence of TEFTS. When I started writing the screenplay for my thesis film back in September of 2024, I intended it to be a surreal psychological thriller. All the way back to the original Twin Peaks (1990), I’ve been inspired by the film work of David Lynch, so when he passed away just a few days before we started principal photography for Third Eye from the Sun, it seemed appropriate to dedicate the film to the director I’ve most admired. In truth, I may not have even committed to SCAD’s program if I hadn’t seen the amazing work Lynch did in his celebrated Twin Peaks: The Return (2017).
The group of images above are representative of the creative process I used to design and fabricate the “Conscious Energy Device – A transmitter, receiver, and reservoir for consciousness” purportedly created by Maynard’s uncle, Neil Barrett. I aspire to create a feature length version of this short film one day. When that day comes, I envision a much more elaborate device with functional accessories, incorporating light, sound and animatronic mechanization. I had sold my welding machine when I closed Moore Art Expressions and moved north, so I subcontracted Patrick Sell (a local Savannah tradesman) to weld the steel frame for me, per the rudimentary design sketch I provided to him.
The following images showcase selected still frames from “Third Eye from the Sun,” my thesis film from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Currently, I’m keeping the film under wraps as I prepare to submit it to various film festivals throughout the year ahead. Many prestigious festivals require that they have the exclusive premiere screening if they choose to include the film in their lineup. For my readers who are interested in seeing the finished short film “Third Eye from the Sun”, here’s a link – https://vimeo.com/1097614638/d48cb9a6d3?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
Maynard’s moment of truth.
I trust you’ve found this insightful synopsis of “Third Eye from the Sun” and the overview of my dynamic transition into the film industry engaging. Thank you for exploring it on the Grand Providentia United website. I encourage you to support this page and my artistic journey by subscribing and sharing your thoughts here. I’m confident that there will be an abundance of thrilling news to share in the near future.
Before I delve into the future, or even the present for that matter, I thought I should revisit the recent past. When I started my studies at the Savannah College of Art and Design on September 11 of last year, I was confident that I could publish regular updates to this blog while also being enrolled in three courses per quarter at the college. I knew that the blog would have to take a backseat to my education at SCAD, but I thought that I could accomplish both tasks simultaneously, as long as I kept my primary focus on the coursework. Within the first couple weeks of classes I realized that it would take all of my creative energies and my undivided focus just to reserve ample head space for the learning curve that would be required for my academic success. Was the past statement wordy? Yes. In short form, it reads more like this – I had to abandon my blog posts temporarily and adopt a new outlet for creative expression, namely the Film and Television Program at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
I feel extremely fortunate to be enrolled as a graduate student at the Savannah College of Art and Design! I’ve completed my first year of studies in the MFA Film and Television Program with a focus on Directing and Experimental Filmmaking. My current unofficial GPA – 3.66. I could never have made it this far without the incredible support of friends and family who have generously invested in my success! Thank you all, I truly appreciate your help!
Now, I’ll move on to a more comprehensive and detailed description of my experiences over the past nine months at SCAD. For readers who are satisfied with the big picture as I’ve already described it, this would be a good place to click your way to some other worthy story on the vast dataspace of the world wide web. Thank you kindly for visiting the “Grand Providentia United” blog site!
These photos were taken the first time I toured the Backlot at SCAD (September 2023). This is a partial view of Phase 1 of the Backlot project. Phase 2 is currently being built and construction on Phase 3, the final phase (likely to be completed after I graduate in the spring of 2025) has already begun. It’s an exciting time to be learning film production at the Savannah College of Art and Design!
As a sexagenarian and someone who had not been in the role of student at college for more than twenty years, I was quite self-conscious about my age while attending the first few weeks of class at SCAD. My classmates were all at least twenty years younger than me and most of them were obviously well ahead of me in terms of their technological proficiencies and knowledge concerned with the art of filmmaking. This self-consciousness was expected, in truth it had been nagging at me since I made the decision to apply to the program in February of 2022. In the lead-up to the first quarter of classes, I spent many an hour during sleepless nights worrying about my ability to make the grade and ultimately graduate with an MFA in Film. Throughout the first two quarters of classes, a nagging uncertainty dogged me day and night. I badgered myself with constant internal questions: Was I up to the challenge of graduate level studies at my age? Was I delusional, thinking that I could keep up with the academic demands and ultimately make the grade? Was the dream of becoming an independent filmmaker beyond my creative reach? All these questions, and many others, came to a climax at the beginning of the second quarter when I realized how much work was required to make it through just two of the three classes, I’d registered for during the winter session. Toward the end of January, I was so worried about the amount of course work in front of me, that I had an experience that I can only describe as a panic attack brought on by a massive wave of the imposter syndrome. Thankfully, a classmate (a new friend) was there to provide a more positive perspective on my circumstances. He advised me to stop looking at the whole staircase and focus on one step at a time. As soon as he gave me the advice, I realized that it was the same advice that I would have given to someone else if the roles were reversed. This snapped me out of my spiral thinking almost immediately, and once I had returned my focus to the work at hand rather than wasting energy on what-ifs and worries about inadequacies, I was able to prioritize the course work and finish the quarter on a high note. Even more importantly, I was able to relax and do my best work in the third and final quarter of my first academic year in the MFA program at SCAD.
From the 26th Annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival, October 21-28, 2023. What an exciting event it was, albeit a little overstimulating for me, considering that it took place during my first quarter of studies!
Graduate studies at SCAD are said to be comprehensive and fast paced no matter what creative discipline or area of focus you are there to study. In my opinion, that comprehensiveness and learning pace demonstrates that they are adequately earning their tuition fees, and this educational strategy on its own, effectively and continually grows their reputation as one of the top art colleges in the world. One of the things that I’ve come to recognize after finishing my first year at the college, is that I would right now be feeling disappointed and less accomplished had the last nine months been intellectually easy on me. As a result of my struggles, I experience growth, physically, spiritually and intellectually. The way I see it, my first year at SCAD was a great success!
Various BTS photos – Muta, Samantha, Ian, Ved, Eric and ScottLeft to Right – Will – Skeleton King vs. Timber Rattler – Scott, Lilly, Damian – Damian – VedImages above are behind the scenes photos taken on set of Father Nature. Photography by Kris Patel.
Father Nature was the first time I directed a film with a team of talented filmmakers. I wrote the script during December of 2023 and captured the principal photography in February of 24. I edited the film over the course of the Spring quarter, adding sound as I learned the process in Sound Design for Film and Television. There are certain aspects of the film that I am still not satisfied with, but I decided it was time to put it to rest and move on to the next big idea. Something I’ve practiced throughout a lifetime of creating art – know when to say the work is finished.
This film was intended to be a proof-of-concept piece and I was planning to further explore the concept for my thesis project. I decided at the last moment (during the Graduate Review Meeting) to leave further exploration of Father Nature until after graduation. The thesis will instead be a short film introducing the “Grand Providentia Projection”
Over the course of the spring quarter, I decided how I wanted to proceed with my education and the remainder of my creative journey. I enrolled in a class called Experimental Film and there I found an enormous amount of inspiration. One of the driving forces behind my decision to apply to SCAD was inspired by the work of the surrealist filmmaker David Lynch. After taking this course I decided to lean into the surreal – gravitate toward the supernatural – run straight into the horror – experiment with science fiction – and dream a fantastic dream. I want to make films that make people wonder.
Chapter 3 – The Future is a Succession of Present Moments
The first time I attempted to be mindfully present, I was only able to stay in that state for a few seconds and then my mind returned to its usual whirlwind of habitual thinking. But, for those few seconds, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Instantaneously, I realized that life wasn’t as serious or complicated as I had always believed it to be. I came to the understanding then, that the present moment was not nearly as intimidating when it was emotionally detached from the past and the future. Previously, every moment of now had been engulfed in regrets from the past and fears of what might happen in the future. Now that I could see the present moment in its simplest form, without all the weight of past and future, I found it much easier to accept whatever each consecutive moment had to offer. As I became more practiced at the act of staying present, I also learned how to separate and evaluate the pains and the pleasures as I was experiencing them, during each passing moment. This made both the pleasurable and the painful experiences easier to appreciate emotionally. Knowing that a hardship in the moment does not need to be compounded by dredging up and attaching every similar moment from the past, gives us an opportunity to treat ourselves with empathy and compassion, even during our most traumatic or tragic moments. There is an amazing feeling of peace that comes when you learn how to unburden yourself of regret and worry, especially if you’ve been carrying around the weight of that emotional baggage for most of your life. In my life, even pleasurable moments were often spoiled by past and future. If I was feeling pleased about anything at all, I would seek out memories of past failings to justify why I didn’t deserve to be happy now. If that didn’t bring me down enough, I would look forward in fear to when the feelings of pleasure would end. Because, eventually, they always end. Or that’s what I thought back then. Now, the act of being present has become a choice that I make over and over again, in each passing moment, not because it’s habitual, but because it is a much more enjoyable way of life. And that’s not all. The moment of now has the potential for a much greater payoff than just making our lives more peaceful and enjoyable than they were when we were filling them up with all of that bad mojo from the past and future. The present moment can also aid us in the fulfillment of our goals and promote the manifestation of our most treasured dreams.
“Beach Gnomes in Paradise” sculptures by S.M.art Castings & Sculpture Services, LLC Photo by Kevin Moore.
The more you live in the now, and consequently, the less you live in the past and the future, the easier it becomes to perceive the causal nature of your thoughts and actions as you work through them. Practicing mindfulness in the now, we can learn to watch ourselves as we live out our life stories. If we want to achieve a particular goal, we understand that we must move in the direction that has the best potential of getting us there. Before we can even move though, we must decide that we are willing to face certain challenges along the way. Is it worth the effort? Bringing that question to our past experiences to help us decide whether it may have a favorable or unfavorable outcome is certainly a valid course of action. As long as you are not looking back to find excuses not to move forward. So many times, I’ve talked myself out of something, because I’ve either failed to achieve it in the past or looking back I see that I’ve never had the courage to attempt it in the first place, so I decide to abandon the goal and settle for less. Looking to the future, while staying firmly grounded in the now, we can make wise choices and take the appropriate actions to get us where we want to be. The more goals we achieve, the more practiced we become at seeing the road signs of success as we are painting them. The present moment becomes a time machine, having the potential to transport us into a more predictable future. And still, the only time we really ever have is now. I’ve chosen to be present, right here, right now.
Presently letting go of the “Anonymous Self-Portrait” (1994). Speaking of excess baggage from the past, I’ve been carrying around this handsome fella for almost thirty years. If you would like to know more about this piece and hear the story behind it, just click on the link to see the short promotional film I produced in an effort to market this sculpture. I’m motivated to make this sale!
“Anonymous Self-Portrait”
Thank you for spending your now, here, on the “Grand Providentia United” blog site. Stay tuned for some extraordinary manifestations in the moments to come. I haven’t yet been able to raise the funds to embark on the “Florida to Maine Expedition to Gather Film Content”, but within the coming week I’ll be heading north, to Savannah first, and then hopefully toward Hope to spend the final weeks of summer with friends and family in Rhode Island. The fall is just ahead, and coursework will begin in early September at the Savannah College of Art and Design. I am extremely excited about what comes next! For now, I will continue to march through this life transition with patience, persistence and flexibility, from one moment to the next, until the future is now.
A sudden flash of bright flame and then a slow burn – that’s the way I’ve perceived events to be unfolding over the past four decades while pursuing my life’s higher purpose. Sometimes it appears to me that patience and perseverance are the only character assets I possess, especially during slow burn seasons. In slow times, when it feels as though my will to press forward is being nullified by circumstances and situations which are seemingly beyond my control, I know from experience that it’s time for me to turn inward. I turn my perspective within for a while to touch base with my mind, body and spirit. By taking an honest look at my motivations and desires – by appraising the level of self-esteem I have in the current moment – by making sure that I’m not feeling superior or inferior to anyone else, but instead just being my truest self – I can usually conclude whether I’m off on a tangent or still on the right path. And when, eventually, I turn the focus outward again, I find that there never really was an impediment, and that the only thing that was slowing down the fire had been my own self-defeating thoughts and actions. Then, right on cue, there’s another flash and the life-force burns brightly once more.
These past three months in Saint Petersburg have been a whole new level of slow burn, but in an entirely positive way. If you’re a new reader on this blog, you may not know that three months ago, just as I was just starting out on a cross-country road trip, I was involved in a car accident that relieved me of my only vehicle. My dear daughter Victoria picked me up on the east coast of Florida and transported me to the west coast. I’ve been holed up in Mike Elwell’s warehouse studio ever since that fateful day. It has been an absolute blessing being here near my son Christopher and all his friends. We’ve all shared some great quality-time together. Chris and I even managed to work together (creatively) on a couple of projects. But now it’s time to be moving along. I’ve procured a new ride and I’m preparing to depart St. Pete, probably next Wednesday morning. There are still a few things that I need to accomplish before I get back on the road. Hopefully that road takes me back to Hope during late June and all of July this summer. I am intent on making the “Florida to Maine Expedition to Gather Film Content” a reality (please visit the GoFundMe page I’ve set up if you feel it in your heart to support me on this extremely important trip – https://www.gofundme.com/manage/crosscountry-expedition-to-gather-film-content). The trip will be as low cost as I can make it. I’ll be sleeping in the van most nights or pitching a tent, while also relying on friends and relatives for an occasional civilized (indoor) sleepover. Some of you may know that I have secured the funds for tuition at the Savannah College of Art and Design. I will be entering the Graduate Film and Television program as a Fellow to the college this fall. The fellowship award was one of only two offered to graduate students each year. It will pay for half of the tuition and federal student loans will pay the other half. Rather than going back to Savannah now, to rent a room and pay board throughout the summer, I am planning to spend June and July on the road, gathering documentary film content (mostly in Hope, RI). From the road, I intend to secure a room in Savannah via the internet, preferably for August 1, and return south during late summer to get ready for classes. This transition I’m now making between fine art and film has been a long time coming. I started dreaming about a career in the movie industry well before I left Rhode Island in 1996. In fact, that was the whole point of moving our young family to Florida to attend the Ringling College of Art and Design. Pamela and I decided that I should pursue a BFA in computer animation and then I could make a lateral move into prop design or animatronics where I could put my sculpting skills to good use in show business. In the now, I’ve set my intentions on becoming an independent filmmaker. I am to become a writer, director and producer of surreal documentary films, the most elaborate of which, will be a factual documentary on the creation and installation of Grand Providentia Projections around the world. There will be a fictional version of the story produced simultaneously. The two stories will run parallel, merging plotlines and characters until the audience is unsure what is actually happening in the real world. It may seem like I just released the ultimate spoiler for this surreal documentary, but I can assure you that if it is done with the right amount of filmmaking finesse, the intrigue will only be enhanced if the audience knows that it is on them to figure out what is real and what is movie magic. That’s just one of the beautiful things about making pictures move.
Still frame from “Return to Hope” If you haven’t already seen it, please do. If you have seen it, please return for another trip to Hope.Just scroll down a few journal entries and you’ll find a link to the Grand Providentia Projection -YouTube channel.
My first film, titled “Return to Hope” is on YouTube. I will be adding a new film during the coming weeks that is focused on the bronze sculpture featured in the film. The new patina is nearly complete (one of the finest patinas I’ve ever produced) and I’m putting together a promotional short film to show off the process and end result of the repatine. I will sell this one-of-a-kind bronze casting to pay for the road trip and help me to pay for books and living expenses at SCAD in the fall. Once I publish the promotional film, I’ll return here to announce it and leave a link.
I’m back! Introducing “Return to Hope” the bronze! Featuring time-lapse photography of twelve hours patina work, simmered down into 5 minutes of film. This is a promotional film with the intention of selling this one-of-a-kind bronze sculpture, but it is also a lot of fun to watch. Enjoy!
Thank you for reading here! I am truly grateful for your presenceand for your support.
"Grand Providentia United" 