"The Sum of All Parts (Moving Forward)" pays homage to the past experiences and people that have contributed to where I am today. The mountain references a place that in my formative years became an environment where many coming-of-age experiences occurred. The people and objects all represents individuals or groups of people that were once very much in my life or still play a large role in my life. The process became a very nostalgic way to appreciate what I've had while thinking about where life is going. Materials include wood, dirt, Pink Panther insulating foam, and oil paint.

When I was around the age of eight years old, I really thought I had it figured out. Bite the bullet and live with my parents for ten more painful years and then I was going to buy my own house to live in and I would never have to listen to rules again. My idea around then about what my life was going to be like was very different than the way things ended up. I idolized Michael Jordan, heavily because of watching Space Jam, and was sure I would be a professional basketball player when I grew up. I always knew I wanted a Coca-cola water fountain, and my own jacuzzi, no other option. I loved diving boards, and decided I should have my own pool. In my mind, I was creating my future dreamhouse which seemed more than reasonable to obtain.

Elmers Glue, Berry Pink Spraypaint, Sprayable Rubber. 2015

Being able to see someone with out being observed empowers. Being watched by unseen entities subjugates. This installation tries to approach this issue. Surveillance in and of itself is not bad or good. In fact, a community watch with a greater scope is beneficial. However, removing the face of the observer removes access to accountability and introduces suspicion. Simon, the patient observer in the police box, is highly visible. He is neither heroic nor insidious. He is in part made of and defined by the technology he utilizes. By being visible from all sides, Simon is as vulnerable as those he observes. He enmeshes with that community and becomes invested in it. "We Should See Each Other More Often" was a collaboration between artists Ali Seradge, Katie Duffey, Dave Eassa and the Station North Arts and Entertainment Office.

What do you do?

What’s your five year plan? Ten year? Retirement?

Maybe if you are lucky you will end up a rich man with a beautiful wife.

This installation imagines and builds a high profile lawyer's from the artist's stereotyped and preconceived ideas. The installation questions societal constructs and pressures surrounding Ivy League Culture, family dynasty,privilege, 9 to 5 job security, monetary and material milestones, self critique, and teenage and childhood nostalgia amongst others.

The Kickapoo was an experimental classroom and gallery space that I opened in Stueben, WI while an artist in residence at ACRE in August 2015. When fellow residents, staff and visiting artists/curators were invited to sign up for drawing classes they were provided with no other information than to bring a bathing suit. Two types of classes were offered, still-life and portraiture. Students were encouraged to explore the medium of drawing while tubing down the river on specially configured tube rafts. Classes lasted approximately 30 minutes while I guided the floating classroom safely around the rocks and sticks of the Kickapoo. The project culminated with an opening exhibition of student work displayed along the river on Thursday August 13th, 2015.

In addition to the weekly classes, Free Space started a visiting artist program within the different institutions that we are currently teaching in. The core values of the visiting artist program is not only to introduce students to established artists, different ways of thinking, and new skill sets, but also keep in mind the real-life applications of the skill being taught. The first visiting artist was Jordan Bernier in October 2015 at the MCIJ.

Jordan Bernier has collaborated with artists via sophiajacob, Floristree, Franklin Street, and Evening Hours. He is an adjunct instructor at Towson University and Loyola University. Jordan lives and works in Baltimore, MD and New York, NY.

"Conflicts of Interest" was an 10 page artist book created by students at the MCIJ over a two day workshop. The book came in an edition of 12 and was entirely screen printed by hand. Screen printing is a wonderful medium that not only has many fine art applications, but even more commercial applications. Jordan gave a short artist talk and a history of screen printing as well as demonstrated new techniques in the printing process. The men created their imagery and then collaboratively they printed the books while Jordan facilitated the process, making sure we were able to complete this ambitious project in our two day workshop.

Eassa is the founder and director of Free Space, a not for profit artist led program, which brings arts classes to incarcerated individuals within the Maryland prison system. The weekly classes, along with the Visiting Artist Program, exposes individuals to ideas, time, materials, and skills that help to build confidence and instill passion in these individuals. Free Space brings programming to the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women, and Dorsey Run Correctional Facility. These images are paintings created by men at the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, and are highlighted in the first publication "Free Space: Volume 1" in January 2016, which is published every 6 months to showcase program participant's art work.