1984 . Acrylic on canvas, 36"x48", by Steven John Koeppe
A flying saucer hurtles toward earth at nearly the speed of light. It decelerates at the last moment, creating rainbow patterns across the inky blackness of space. The blue planet's celestial companions, our Moon and the red planet Mars, advance along their gravitational paths around the Sun. Centered in the middle of the canvas is Santa Monica, the center of my Universe.
Burn Factor
Burning Man 2004, Blackrock Playa, Nevada
Acrylic on canvas, 18"x24", by Steven John Koeppe, 2004
Burning Man is, to say the least, a very unusual experience. 18,000 people came together in a dry lakebed for sun and sandstorms. Despite gusts reaching 50 mph and temps ranging from 50° to over 100°, thousands strut about in costumes ranging from Road Warrior and Amazon to feathers and cartoon characters. Every manner of bicycle and unique, whimsical vehicles cruise the playa, from freaky ATVs to customized, articulated transit buses. Overlooking the whole bizarre scene, the Man, awaits a finale of flames. Go take a look at my pictures.
Einstein's Wave Theory
1991 . Acrylic on canvas, 36"x48", by Steven John Koeppe
Collection of Mike and Brooke Robinson
Albert Einstein took mankind a quantum leap beyond our understanding of the nature of the universe. Einstein was among the first to question the atomic power he helped make possible. I've placed him on Marcel Duchamp's "dada" creation, riding a wave off Kauai. A buxom blonde, maybe Marilyn Monroe, is flying a kite in the background.
Atlantis Blues
1981 . Acrylic on canvas, 36"x48", by Steven John Koeppe
This painting started with a photo of an old Arab dhow. The temples in the background were actually date warehouses in Dubai. Naturally, the UFOs, Narwal, and other hidden treasures came from my imagination.
Ground Zero,
Sonoran Desert
1992 . Acrylic on canvas, 36"x48", by Steven John Koeppe
I came upon these strange constructs in Arizona, about an hour west of Tuscon. Nobody was around to explain the significance of dozens of 10 foot high X's and rambling box-like structures. The dome structure also defied reason or purpose. There was also an ancient dump truck perched 40 feet above the desert on massive poles. Whatever the significance, this place represents a huge amount of aimless effort.
Dubya's Gone Wild!
Acrylic on canvas, 18x24", by Steven John Koeppe, 2004
Some of you may recall my piece criticizing the first Gulf War: "Who's Sane?".
Dubya sits astride the football, posing with his pals in a twist on the three monkeys theme: see evil, hear evil, speak evil. Condi sings the tunes as Colin plays clean-up and Rummy caresses a lighting bolt. The pillars of power (his Weapons of Mass Destruction) flank "King George II".
In the foreground, familiar players take in the weird scene while enjoying a round of cigars with Castro, including Clinton with the blue dress across his lap and Hillary staring at his backside. "Bad Santa" Saddam chats with Osamama. The capital is surrounded by dirty money as a flood of blood and oil pollute troubled waters and acidify the atmosphere. A storm approaches.
Who's Sane?
A Portrait of Bush the Elder
1991 . Acrylic on canvas, 36"x48", by Steven John Koeppe
Under Ronald Reagan and Bush the First, we gave Saddam Hussein arms, money and support to help build the world's 4th largest army, and also taught him how to make biological weapons. I was and continue to be totally disgusted by the flag-waving, Bible-thumping and Constitution-ignoring duplicity of ex-CIA "spookmaster" Bush and his spawn. Our descent into the Gulf War was a premeditated, televised lynching of our own tin-pot puppet dictator. How many more people must die? Why turn the Gulf into a filthy, flaming, sooty, radioactive mess? Corporations like Standard Oil and Haliburton fuel our bottomless appetite for oil.
Cosmic Waves
1994 . Acrylic on canvas, 48""x48", by Steven John Koeppe
This painting explores the interconnectivity of ethereal and earthly integration. It also explores the themes of love, humanity and spirituality.
Clipper and Comber
1993 . Acrylic on canvas, 35"x47", by Steven John Koeppe
When out sailing in rough weather, waves often seem to tower above you, obscuring what lies beyond. For this painting, I concentrated on expressing the motion and power of the wind, waves and billowing sails of my ship.
Bay of Transition
1974 . Acrylic on canvas, 16"x24", by Steven John Koeppe
Not for sale
This was my very first painting on canvas. In this work, I include many of the things I've always found visually facinating, from cactus gardens to coastlines, bubbles to planets, clouds, rainbows, tree roots, eyes and breasts.
Highway To Hell
1988 . Acrylic on canvas, 48"x72", by Steven John Koeppe
Collection of Debbie and George Castleberry
Way out east in Arizona, near the town of Tombstone, I was surprised to discover this scene. Imagine my surprise to find that Arizona highways could go to the Devil. Christions, being how they are, objected to the highway number and had it changed to something ordinary.
Reflections On Dada
1985 . Acrylic on canvas, 48"x54", by Steven John Koeppe
Collection of John and Marilyn Koeppe
Imagine a box of mirrors defined by my logo design. It reflects the same beach scene over and over again. The "dada" is sculpted in "silver".
Love It Or Leave It
1988 . Acrylic on canvas, 48"x72", by Steven John Koeppe
Collection of John and Pam Sheppard
American flags wave from a lot of antennas, these days. Back in the 1960's, bumper stickers and window decals proudly declared "Love It Or Leave It" , implying that if you don't love America exactly like the guy driving the car you should "get the hell out of Dodge". Unfortunately, such attitudes are still alive and well, today. I painted this wasted Cadillac as a metaphor for where such thinking has taken us. We put business interests ahead of environmental and social concerns, we're in debt up to our necks again, and style is valued way ahead of substance. Heading hell-bent down a bumpy road, we may be headed for a total breakdown.
Mojave Mojo
Click image for 49 k JPEG
1989 . Acrylic on canvas, 36"x48", by Steven John Koeppe
Collection of Samuel T. Robinson, Jr.
I came upon this thrashed and rusting wreck deep in the East Mojave Desert. If you look very carefully, you may be able to see a little "mojo" going on. One day, a visiting plumber was able to identify its make as an early 1970s Opel Cadet by pointing out similarities to his own car. Folks tell me the car reminds them of a fish. What do you think?
Mind of the Artist
Click image for 26 k JPEG
1987 . Acrylic on canvas, 44"x54", by Steven John Koeppe
Collection of Richard C. Holgate, M.D.
This painting was inspired by a sagittal Magnetic Resonance Image of the artist. I projected this MRI onto canvas and painted in what the shapes suggested to me. Friends tell me it's very revealing. I choose to let my art speak for itself. It now graces the walls of Diagnostic Image Center of South Carolina.
