“From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls that are destined to be together find each other, their streams of light flow together and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being.”

- Ba’al Shem Tov

With this in mind, D.S. Ullman and Robyn Bryant have combined their individual talents to create several multidimensional contemporary art pieces reflecting current core beliefs, values, traditions and trends. Their unique collaborative style has been described as provocative and cutting edge in nature, often times pushing the envelope to the very edge.

David has an uncanny ability to take a conceptual idea and transpose it into a multi-layered visual work. These multi-dimensional collaborative pieces stimulate renewed awareness and thought, often times expressing unique and heartfelt messages.

Robyn may be best described as  “Zen Kitty”, thus giving the art pieces an eclectic feel. She has a traditional fine art background working with various mediums (i.e. graphite, lead, charcoal, watercolors, pastels, gauche and acrylic-on glass). She works primarily with human and animal form. 

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The founding fathers understood this phrase when implementing a system of checks and balances within the framework of our democracy, thereby protecting that which we as Americans cherish most..... our civil liberties. This system of checks and balances has been put to the test on many occasions and has always somehow managed to survive. "The Concrete Jungle" explores fundamental democratic principles. Its intent is to challenge its audience by posing one simple question: Is the United States Constitution as our forefathers intended to be, being upheld?

It is said that art imitates life or does life imitate art? It is also said that “history repeats itself”. "The Concrete Jungle" in many ways is a snap shot of current trends and contemporary issues in American Society. However, what we are experiencing in the now, we have seen in the past.  I like to think of it as a jig saw puzzle on Civics. It is multilayered and multidimensional. I leave up to the audience to question and begin to discover if democracy is alive and well in 2008. As American citizens, our “civil liberties” afford us the right to question and speak up. Please do . . .

- d.s. ullman, copyright 2008

Balancing politics and humanity has been one of the supreme challenges presented any time anywhere.  In fact, on the basic humanitarian and universal level which drives the collective conscious, we are “one.” This recognition guides us through the progressive and incremental changes we are destined to make toward fulfilling the ongoing divine purpose.

One of the more interesting themes in this work for me is the “Wizard of OZ”. Like the fictional fantasy OZ, America, OUR country, was founded on a concept of societal “oneness” and continues to evolve, recognizing a new path of combined consciousness.  I’d like to see us consider history and just for a moment, recognize how it repeats itself not only in our societal experience but in our individual lives. 

I’d like to say “Wake up!”  The tape’s been playing long enough!  By accepting our personal power individually, we will each contribute to the power we need to restore us to the collective union we were intended to be.

It is my hope that “The Concrete Jungle” presents an interesting multi-level artistic and intellectual experience as well as provokes further thought and interest in moving into a more congruent and collaborative society.  We’re all the same in God’s eyes … free speech … Remember Dorothy’s words: “There’s no place like home.”

What separates us from animals and machines? What is it that makes us humans unique from all other species?  Is it our ability to reason?  Is it our inner thoughts, desires and feelings? Is it our imagination? Philosophers, poets and scholars have posed these questions many times throughout history.

There appears to be a fine line between man, animal and machine. We consider ourselves to be highly evolved and yet, there is a dark side to mankind that is still evident, that “animalistic” side of us that allows genocide to still occur in the world today. As we continue to progress, we have created machines to perform, to calculate and become a vital and integral part of our existence. These machines in many ways are becoming more human-like in appearance and in function. Ironically, we as humans are becoming more programmed. We think less for ourselves.  We are told what to wear, what to eat, and what to think. We are advertised to from birth until death do us part.

Then, there is the human soul, that indefinable part of us that truly separates us, keeping the dark side in check and keeping us and our machine-like images from becoming one and the same.

- d.s.ullman, copyright 2008

Children don’t know to discriminate against each other.  Watch them on a playground or anywhere; they see each other with only the pure essence of what is before each of them.  There are no barriers created by ego-driven outside influences.  They move from one moment to the next simply allowing the others in their environment to move into their collective experience.

With time though, that openness and innocence seems to dissipate in line only with observations of an unforgiving and chaotic world.  This shapes the omnipresent “shadow side” always visible in the background.  Meanwhile, there is always a blank space on the “eternal canvas”. We may learn negative patterns of perception, but we must recognize that we have the personal power to think for ourselves and then choose how we perceive ourselves and others.

- R. Bryant, Copyright 2008

Sir Isaac Newton’s third law states: “ For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Although generally this law applies to physics, one can see how it has merit when discussing man’s relationships with his fellow man and his environment.

According to Wikipedia, global warming may be defined as, ” the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s near-surface air and oceans since the mid-twentieth century and its projected continuation.” Global warming directly or indirectly affects every living entity on our planet. Many top scientists agree that atmospheric greenhouse gases/ carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels have significantly affected climate change. It is believed by many experts that global warming has contributed to the melting of the polar ice caps, has accelerated glacial retreat, and has exacerbated extreme weather changes and natural disasters i.e. hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding. Scientists also believe that climate change has also affected agricultural yields and has brought about the extinction of many species.

Throughout modern history, we have witnessed much needless pain, suffering, and devastation. Man’s greed and his desire for wealth and power have led to the acquisition of lands and valuable resources at the expense, displacement and destruction of many indigenous peoples and species. Much of this pain, suffering, and devastation is rooted and finds its justification in the name of progress i.e. the industrial revolution, the denuding or burning of the Brazilian Rain Forest, etc.

Man and Nature are out of balance! Mankind is on a downward spiraling path of self-destruction. But it’s not too late. Change is imminent. It will take great leadership and many voices of reason to restore that necessary balance and universal harmony. It’s time to curb our excesses and treat one another and our earth with kindness, dignity, and mutual respect.

                                                                                                         d.s.ullman, Copyright 2008 

What do we mean when we say we would go to the “ends of the earth” for someone? We say we would go to the “ends” of the earth…for someone we love…almost as if we think our earth is infinite… never ending…  the “ends” simply existing in a dramatic realm of “neverness”…a non-existent place where we can project our naively romanticized notions of devotion.  Our literal, linear concept of that “end” is contrived through our limited human ability to conceptualize that the “ends” of our earth are, in fact a plausible reality, not a deliriously romantic idea that uses language to express an ego-driven expression of desire.

Take the “s” off of “ends” and we have a very different feeling don’t we? 

Earth is Mother to us all.  Loving our Mother…to her “ends”, continuing to enjoy the sights, smells, sounds and feeling of nature and all species with which we are one is achieved through an expanded, collective awareness of our here and now, moving together forward from that standpoint.

Let us all return to now and see together that we must appreciate the Mother we have and love her to those “ends” for our time with her and for generations to come.

“From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls that are destined to be together find each other, their streams of light flow together and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being.”

- Ba’al Shem Tov