

I served 20 years in the army and retired as a staff sergeant, served as a member of special weapons, field artillery, and quick reactionary force. I suffer mental illness, PTSD. This was triggered on the morning of September 11, 2001. Creating my sculptures serves as therapy to take me to a more peaceful, quiet place where I become comfortable and experience less anxiety, depression, and stress. Since the art I create is of root stumps, it is a wonderful journey to travel to Northern Michigan in pursuit of my next project. It is in those vast isolated regions where I am able to find out who I really am, and what my life is really all about. Listening to the birds sing their beautiful songs help me find inner peace and really see where I want to go with my art. Once I get out in the woods and find some pine trees and smell them, and listen to the gentle breeze blow through them, I begin to understand life, not just now; but I ponder how it was millions of years ago, undisturbed, untouched.
These are James's official ArtPrize entries from this year and past years.
These are images of past work that James has done.