Re- purposing in sculpture

It seems my last art trip became more about viewing three dimensional art than my usual 2D. It just happened that way. My friend took me to Storm King Art Center which is in Mountainville, New York.

Storm King is a museum that celebrates the relationship between nature and sculpture. There are 500 acres of landscaped lawns, fields and woodlands which provide a backdrop for the sculptures of international artists. Certainly we didn't walk the 500 acres, but we did get to see quite a bit of the property. We opted to begin our explorations with a tram ride that highlighted many of the major works on display. This gave just enough information for us to decide where we wanted to spend more time and get close up views.

I had my favourites which I'll continue to explore in several future posts. One of the themes I noticed was the re- purposing of materials.




The re-purposing of of materials to create objects that are both functional and beautiful is artfully accomplished by Johnny Swing. Among other things he's created a series of Coin Furniture. His Butterfly Chair (2002) was created by welding7000 half dollars together and the Nickel Couch is self explanatory. Additional works in this series can be found on his website. The undulating curves were very inviting and made me want to caress the surfaces. The overall appeal was one of softness but sitting on them was anything but! They were hard, cold and damp on the overcast day we visited.


A Moment in Time (2004) by Chakaia Booker was created using rubber tires, stainless steel and wood. The organic shapes and the texture drew me in immediately. I couldn't imagine that such delicate forms could be created from tires. My mind was running wild with questions about her process. I wasn't familiar with this artist when I first came upon her work but further research when I got home reminded me that indeed I had seen some of her sculpture in various art magazines. This Africian American artist was born in 1953 in Newark, NJ and attended Rutgers University, receiving a degree in Sociology and a Masters of Fine Art from City College of NY in 1993. She began working with rubber tires in the early 1990's and continues to work in this medium. Writings about her work indicate a concern for social issues. Want to find out more? Check out these articles in Art Daily and The Village Voice '

On the road again

Travelling is a great source of inspiration for one's art practice and I've been lucky in that department. On my recent "art" trip with my friend and artist Carol Bajen-Gahm which consisted of a driving trip from New York back to Newfoundland, we discovered a new botanical garden - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. It is spectacular given that it is in its infancy. There were so many highlights from my visit there, I don't know where to start. Oddly enough I'm not beginning with the plant life! More on that later.


One of the first things that caught my eye on the drive into the area was a sculpture by Wendy Klemperer, a Brooklyn artist. I noticed a number of her other works throughout the gardens. She works in recycled metal focusing on animals. There is no doubt that she understands the anatomy of the various animals she sculpts because they appear so lifelike given that they are only in armature.


Another favourite sculpture on the property was Glass Orb by Henry Richardson which spoke to me of the fragility of the world. The light hitting the glass and the resulting sparkle made it irresistible. The touch and it will break message was strong and clear. The aritist's intention for the work goes beyond my interpretation. The Spheroid Series, of which Orb is part, expresses " an inner spirit of humanity. In these simple shapes, there can be found a statement of mass without heaviness, through an escape of light." Specifically about Orb Richardson says, " Part of the purpose of the piece is to provide a way in which anyone who looks at is can have an experience that is personal to them. "

Check out some of the other sculptures in the gardens here.