joe waks' photostream  

I am what you would call a “non-traditional” artist.

For more than a decade I worked at the highest levels of Democratic politics in New Jersey. I am also an attorney. In the past I worked as communications director and counsel to U.S. Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., chief of staff for Bayonne Mayor/Assemblyman/Senator Joseph Doria, Jr., and Appointments Counsel to Governor Richard J. Codey.
I served as state director for U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, running all of his operations here at home, and recently started my own consulting business. Working in politics is a not a 9 to 5 pastime. We work long hours and on many weekends as well. Despite this, I try to make art during every other waking moment.

I cannot pretend to have an impressive biography detailing years of gallery shows. I do not have an MFA. Heretofore, I have not been part of the “Art World” Nevertheless, after much belly button gazing and eons of self-pity about why no one had “discovered” my works, I decided in early 2007 that I would get off my ass and do something about it. The fruits of my labor have been fairly plentiful in a short amount of time.