Prize Fighting and Dog Fighting: A Comparison of Blood Sports

This series of paintings and drawings stemmed from a two research grants and a fellowship that were granted by Carnegie Mellon University to investigate the surge of blood sports, specifically depression era boxing in comparison to dog fighting in Kabul post Taliban regime in 2010 on the basis of political, social, and economic unrest. Along with my research, I made life-size (six foot square), expressive paintings of the sports, putting the viewer at eye-level with the crowds, aimed and drawing the viewer into the fervor of the fights. All of the work is harsh, mixed media with bare canvas and heavy brushstrokes meant to emulate the roughness of the subject. The boxing paintings, along with a body of boxing related artwork were showcased at the Los Angeles Athletic Club for their black tie boxing events for several years.