Basketball, 2003. Oil on canvas, 41 x 44 inches.
Private Collection.

I wanted the reality of street ball. The action of the figure jumping in the air would have been impossible without the help of the camera. I changed the background from a Central Park scene to a graffitied wall and a schoolyard fence to express the trapped feeling in the inner city. Nevertheless there was a moment of joy for these young men in their game of basketball. The wall and fence also worked compositionally to project the figures which gave them space and depth.