In the 1960's, I was introduced to the works of Cliff Westerman and Joseph Cornell. Their assemblage pieces were so powerful that I was instantly captivated by the narrative quality of this art form. Assemblage art seemed to be the natural three-dimensional extension of surrealism. After graduating from USC, I began working for Ed Kienholz and we became friends. Westerman, Cornell, and Kienholz were the inspiration for my love affair with assemblage that lasted for over three decades.