Switched-on Gutenberg Issue 16
Assemblage
Issue Artists
 
David Francis, Featured Artist

Born in Vancouver, B.C. in 1965, David Francis began working as an archaeological field technician in 1983. Focusing instead on poetry in his academic career (MFA, PhD, University of Washington, 1992; 1996), he nevertheless continued to excavate sites in Oregon and Washington, eventually co-editing Archaeology in Washington from 1999 – 2001. Lecturing in Poland and Hungary (1999, 2002) as a Fulbright grantee, he also taught international poetic forms aboard the SS Universe Explorer as part of the Semester at Sea Program in 2001. A series of residencies at the Museum of Glass in 2002 – 2005, in tandem with a teaching position at Cornish College of the Arts, prompted him to begin experimenting with text and visual media. With ever-shifting interests, he returned to his studies at Washington to earn a CD in Museum Studies (2003). He currently teaches workshops in Text Art and Box Assemblage at Pratt Fine Arts Center and serves as Senior Editor for Willamette Cultural Resources Associates in Portland. For more information on his work see: http://www.cocaseattle.org/board/francis.htm

Webb Hammond (collaborator with David Francis on Mayan biface)

Currently working out of his shop in the small Hood Canal town of Seabeck, Washington, Webb Hammond started flint-knapping stone cutting tools, arrowheads and spearheads at age 10. Primarily influenced by his father’s passion for custom bow and arrow making, including flint-knapped obsidian arrow heads, Webb extended his passion for ancient artifacts by seeking out rare materials from Alaska and the Northwest. He has gained worldwide recognition as an authority in the creation of early native tools, knives and weapons.

Tray Drumhann

Tray Drumhann lives in Spring City, Tennessee. His work explores the dimensions and depth of human nature.Notable publications featuring Drumhann's work include: The Pinch Journal, Tiferet and Adagio Quarterly.

Maureen Conroy

Maureen L. Conroy McConre is an outsider, assemblage artist who works primarily with discarded/cast off materials. She comes from generations of problem solvers who used whatever was on hand to rig a contraption, compensate for a barrier or create for the sake of creation. Given this, cast off materials are highly revered, honored as elements to be reworked and given new life as art. The paper used in Poetry Ball Swing are drafts of Carol Potter's poetry.