This was my first painted wood assemblage after working on a series of paper collages. It was inspired by a collection of wood cut-out shapes. I began to play with them and recognized their rhythm. 

At right: 
The Royal Couple
   Painted wood
   44 x 10 inches & 39 x 10 inches

This assemblage pair began with parts of an antique piano. They are not recognizable as such; I am only referring to the two bases on which the smaller painted wood pieces are mounted. 

 

Below: 
Aquarium
   Painted wood - 10½ x 18 inches

These shapes simply reminded me 
of fish and other sea life.  

At right: 
Pinball
   Painted wood assemblage; 39 x 19 inches

The construction of Pinball was an exploration of assembling found wooden shapes. I enjoyed getting into color. 

Below: 
Die Grosse Rosane Maschine #2
  Painted wood assemblage; 24 x 32 inches

I looked at an earlier paper collage I'd done with the same title and decided it might work well as a wood assemblage. Many of the design elements remain the same, but with a number of changes as it progressed. 

Here we go into three dimensions after working in "bas relief" assemblages for a while. I found some interesting wooden pieces and started putting them together. The construction evolved as an architectural piece. As it approached completion it reminded me of the mysterious romantic drama of a Mahler symphony. I felt as if I were  walking through shapes and spaces.  

It's hard to do photographic justice to a piece that is off-black. Don't forget to click to enlarge so you can see more of the details

At left
Reconstructed Chair
  Painted wood assemblage; 38 x 16 x 9 inches

This piece includes the entire chair, without having added or omitted any parts. When I found  the chair it was mortally wounded and abandoned on the sidewalk. It continued to live on life support in the cellar until inspiration struck. -- I regret not photographing the chair prior to the start of this project, but the sketch below gives a sense of it.