Writing, Published Works & Blog
Zorro and My Uncle Tony’s Sword
“Out of the night When the full moon is bright, Comes a masked man known as “Zorro”. This bold renegade Carves a ‘Z’ with his blade, A ‘Z’ that stands for “Zorro” “Bless me Father, for I have sinned. Again,” I said. “What is it this week, Jerry?” he said. It always frustrated me when he responded like that, not…
The Pettibone Venus
A PURPOSEFUL REPURPOSING On August 7th, 2022, my team and I unveiled the Pettibone Venus. I dedicate this monumental sculpture and the landscaping surrounding it to my friend, the late Richard Haag, the internationally renowned landscape architect who, in 1980 with his wife Cheryl Trivison, worked with me to design the Italianate landscape of the…
Stone Sculpture – The Soft and Hard of It
Working hard stone is much more difficult than sculpting softer material like marble that moves relatively easily with the experienced use of chisels and hammers. Working hard stone punishes one’s bones. Granite and Basalt, high up at 6 on the Mohs material hardness scale, are prone to shearing and splintering and thus, often require sculptors…
Aphrodite Asparagus (a.k.a. “Our Lady of the Asparagus”)
In 2016, motivated by the desire to find a fitting classical centerpiece to adorn my wife’s new garden, I began researching classical sculpture related to nature’s inherent beauty. Remembering the myths of Aphrodite and her Roman counterpart, Venus, the goddess of fertility, agricultural bounty and springtime, I decided it would be appropriate to honor that…
Christmas Crabs, Angel Hair, and the Way the Cookie Crumbles
This restrained 2020 holiday season, I have decided to speak of two traditions from my own family: Pasta with crab and Italian cookies. Although I am confident this pandemic will be over soon, with the passing of several loved ones this past year, I felt it important to memorialize this, in case things fall apart…
The Trellis
This is the first blog describing the sculptures that are installed at LaSalle Reserve. Two years ago I decided to re-design my garden on Maury Island, Washington where my wife, Barbara and I have converted what had previously been a family home into a “venue.” The project is complete now, and is suitable for corporate retreats,…
The Challenge – adapting a screenplay from a successful book
The business of screenwriting is messy. What goes into the final script, who gets credit, and who gets paid almost always become contentious issues – the subject of lore and lawsuits. When I was at CalArts, my mentor Alexander MacKendrick told me the story about how the famed writer, Ben Hecht was led through the…
Italian Translations for Widow Walk, Isthmus and The Fairness of Beasts
Solipsis Publishing is pleased to announce that the Italian translations in PAPERBACK and Kindle for Widow Walk, Isthmus, and The Fairness of Beasts – titled: – L’Approdo Isthmus La Clemenza delle Bestie are now available on Amazon.com and Amazon.It. Translated by the talented team of Francesca Cosi and Alessandra Repossi, these editions would be…
Watch the First Widow Walk Video Teaser!
Scroll down to see the first of eight “pre-pitch” teasers that we will use to bring Widow Walk to life in a different medium. the plight of one strong woman pioneer and her family and first nation peoples caught in a growing clash of cultures. CLICK HERE: [KGVID]https://www.garlasalle.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/My-Teaser-1.mp4[/KGVID]
Artist’s Chat with Shannon Polson: Representing the Wilderness Experience in Literature
In this Artist’s Chat, I am excited to talk with Shannon Polson, someone who is not only a fantastic writer, but an inspiring individual who teaches us all what is possible when we commit ourselves to pushing our own limits and cultivating excellence. Shannon is both a best-selling author and one of the first women…