The primary inspiration for my work, implied in "The Calling," is exploration of the subconscious. This provides me a means to allude to personal events or reactions to my environment. Additionally, and probably more obvious, my work is strongly influenced by science fiction, literature and cinema. Besides alluding to a personal narrative, "The Calling" addresses the issue of technology as a substitute for certain human functions, such as speech.

Concurrently implied are allusions to primitive human senses and instincts, which are in conflict with technological intrusions into the body. I am fascinated by images depicting the alchemic evolution of humans, especially their mergence with machine. Through this theme I am able to create images that demand interpretation, in turn becoming more mysterious and ambiguous. Personal symbolism and metaphor always exists, in turn creating a multiplicity of viewer interpretations. I provide clues, but not the entire story.

Michael Barnes received a BFA from Alma College and a MFA from the University of Iowa. The artist's exhibition record includes many regional, national and international exhibitions including Graffinova, 1998, Ostrobothnian Museum, Vassa, Finland; International Small Engravings Salon Invitational '97, Carbunari Florean Museum, Carbunari, Romania; 71st International Print Competition, The Print Center, Philadelphia, PA; and Pacific Prints 1998, Palo Alto, CA.

Barnes' work is included in the collections of the Southern Graphics Council, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, University of Iowa and Ohio University. Barnes' teaching experience includes: Lecturer at the University of Oklahoma School of Art and Visiting Artist residencies at the University of Missouri, the University of Kansas and Central College (IA).