The depiction of the woman in an architectonic setting has been a central theme in much of my work.

In the 4s series, individual females are depicted as icons and abstractions in a variety of outdoor locations in Nassau County, New York.

The choice of the range of locations is partly inspired by the emergence of Los Angeles as a major center of art production by a new generation of artists who have demonstrated that it is possible to create significant works of art within a suburban environment.

The approach of Jacques Rivette in selecting idiosyncratic Parisian locations for his 1974 film, Céline et Julie vont en bateau (Celine and Julie Go Boating) is another source of inspiration. The Nassau County parking lots, parks, train stations, boardwalks, beaches, gardens, roadways, etc., depicted in the 4s series are ordinary, and they are not typically used as settings for films, photographs, or paintings. Nevertheless, they have great visual value.

Each work in the 4s series stands on its own. However, it is also most suitable for multiple works to be viewed in a row or within a grid.

Norbert Briar – New York, November 2007