Elvis/David is a companion to David/Elvis (1991-2), the mixed-media portrait that suggests that my brother, David, shares characteristics with Elvis Presley. The works are the same size -- each is about as tall as my brother -- and both include a standing figure.

ELVIS GOT BORN AS DAVID FIRST is, of course, EGBDF, the notes represented by the lines of the treble clef. The musical reference was important to me, since this piece was originally conceived for the Rock'N'Roll Show, a collective exhibition of works by 30 artists.

I wanted this work to be amusing and light-hearted, while still touching upon serious questions: the importance to a society of its defining symbols; the endurance through the centuries of the notion of celebrity; the beauty of the young male in his prime. The co-existence of these two streams of concern required meshing Elvis, a flesh-and-blood human, with David, a marble statue.

That was the challenge: to seamlessly attach Elvis's human head to David's stone body. I accomplished this by using throughout simplified, less-than-realistic flesh and shadow tones: the latter are all purple, for instance.

Please contact me with any questions you might have about this piece.

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