Collaborations with Billy Renkl
In our own culture, at least, the practice of making art is often an exclusively self-referential activity. The popular model is for the artist to disappear into their attic of anguish, emerging eventually with a personal, insular, self-referential triumph. Or, often, not.
We have known each other for more than a decade; for many years we've each used the other as a sounding board in thinking about our individual work. That was a productive practice, but it only faintly prefigured the exchange of ideas that produced this work. Regardless of the outcome of the endeavor, we value this exercise as a refutation of the model of the isolated artist.
Though both of us primarily work with found imagery, the way we use it is quite different. (One of us emphasizes accrual, for instance; the other often employs subtraction.) Even so, recasting our studio practice as a companionable endeavor has been surprisingly easy. Collaboration favors regard over self-regard, conversation over solitude, empathy over self-expression. It is, really, a relief to have a voice outside of oneself to ratify what is effective and clarify what is not.
The title of these collaborative works refers to 'four hand piano,' a piano duet intended to be played by both musicians on the same piano.
Portrait of a Solider. Billy Renkl. Greg Sand.

Portrait of a Soldier
Altered Found Photograph with Collage,
2013, 10" x 7"
Cassiopeia and Cepheus. Billy Renkl. Greg Sand.

Cassiopeia and Cepheus
Found Ambrotypes with Collage,
2017, 3.25" x 2.75" each
Translation. Billy Renkl. Greg Sand.

Translation
Collage,
2015, 13.25" x 10.75"
Couple. Billy Renkl. Greg Sand.

Couple
Altered Found Photograph with Collage,
2013, 8.5" x 5.5"
Portrait of a Punctual Man. Billy Renkl. Greg Sand.

Portrait of a Punctual Man
Assemblage of Altered Found Photograph with Clock Mechanisms,
2015, 4" x 3"
Family Traits. Billy Renkl. Greg Sand.

​​​​​​​Family Traits
Found Tintypes with Collage,
2013, 4.25" x 4.25"
Portrait of a Strategist. Billy Renkl. Greg Sand.

Portrait of a Strategist
Altered Found Photograph with Collage,
2013, 9.25" x 6.5"
Portrait of a Spiritualist. Billy Renkl. Greg Sand.

Portrait of a Spiritualist
Found Photograph with Collage,
2015, 7.5" x 6.5"
Temple #1 and Temple #2. Billy Renkl. Greg Sand.


Temple #1 and Temple #2
Ambrotypes from Altered Found Photographs with Collage,
2015, 5" x 4" each
View of an Escapist. Billy Renkl. Greg Sand.

View of an Escapist
Altered Found Photograph with Collage,
2013, 8.25" x 5.5"
Portrait of a Governess. Billy Renkl. Greg Sand.

Portrait of a Governess
Altered Found Photograph with Collage,
2013, 10.25" x 8.25"
Phoebus. Billy Renkl. Greg Sand.

Phoebus
Found Ambrotype with Collage,
2017, 3.25" x 2.75"
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