I cannot say in words what I communicate visually. The internal dialog that occurs while I’m working augments the process but does not explain the result. Good work stands independent of its making. To appreciate art is to be sensitive to your own responses to it.
PROCESS
Forged and fabricated bronze sculpture is hand-made working directly with raw sheet metal making each sculpture a one-of-a-kind original. The sculptural forms consist of several elements that are typically cut by shear or plasma arc from heavy gauge bronze sheet according to templates derived in a three-dimensional design process.
Before assembly surface sculpting of the bronze elements is accomplished with hammers, chisels, carving burs and stamps. The chisels, stamps and some hammers are custom made in the studio, often unique to each piece of artwork.
Once the elements of the sculpture have been cut and the surfaces sculpted, they are softened by annealing, then forged to shape with hammer, press, anvil and die. The elements are then refined by hammer on specifically designed wooden blocks and metal forms. After the shapes of the component pieces have been created, they are welded together, rough sanded and further forged to blend and develop the forms. When the sculpture is fully shaped and assembled the surface sculpting, tool work and weld seams are integrated and perfected by fine sanding and burnishing.
The patination process is achieved with a multi-layered application of chemicals, the control of which causes the surface of the bronze to oxidize to the desired combination of subtle to strong colors and values. The process can require hours to days. Generally, the chemicals are dissolved in water and brushed or sprayed onto the torch-heated bronze sculpture. The color, texture, opacity and translucency of the patina is controlled by variations in application techniques and burnishing with abrasives at various stages of the process. Once the desired qualities are achieved the patina is sealed with wax and buffed to a luster.
Sculpture Bio
I find the imagery available in non-objective art limitless and sometimes overwhelming so early on I made the decision to set parameters within which to work. I decided to look for sophisticated aesthetics in simple forms and concepts. The early sculptures were all made using the same basic shape, the first shape my hands made patting around a wad of clay. It was roughly a pear shape and I made a number of pieces with it: bubblegum machines, refrigerators, bible scenes and ecological statements. There was non-objective work as well but most of the pieces had some frame of reference to real objects. Nevertheless I decided to call it non-objective folk art, because of the simple, naïve imagery, and sought to further define it and operate within its parameters.
Eventually the forms evolved to a simple geometry. I also broadened the scope of materials used, from ceramic to cast resin, carved wood, forged and fabricated metals, and cast metals. However forged and fabricated bronze captured my attention most. Working directly with sheet metal to create three-dimensional forms brings a raw honesty to the sculpture, and bronze that is well worked adds a rich unique quality.
The work has also evolved conceptually. I still explore non-objective folk art but use it as direction rather than definition. And instead of relying primarily on real objects I now rely on depth of character in a piece to provide conceptual interest.
I look to communicate sophisticated aesthetics with a simple visual language that is honest and well worked.
RESUME
MEDIA AND PUBLIC ENDORSEMENT:
ACQUISITION: “Ball In The Window”, by the city of Carlsbad NM 2019
FEATURE ARTICLE, Santa Fean magazine, Art issue 2015
FINALIST for City of Albuquerque, NM, Public Art Program, Cherry Hills Library 2012
SOLO EXHIBITION: Littleton Historical Museum, Littleton CO (an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution) 2011
FEATURE ARTICLE, Sculptural Pursuit magazine, Spring issue 2007
ACQUISITION: “Edge & Point”, by the Littleton Historical Museum, Littleton CO, 1% for the Arts 2005
COMMISSION: “Stars Over Mountains with Pine Trees and People”, a 6.5' x 9' bronze wall relief for the Littleton, Colorado Historical Museum (an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution) for the lobby of a new museum facility, dedicated 1/29/05
INVITED ARTIST for the 3rd annual Crossroads Contemporary Gallery Celebration Benefiting Kitchen Angels, Santa Fe, NM 2006
SELECTED ARTIST for the Acclaimed Artists’ Series by the Art in Public Places Program of New Mexico 2002, 2006, 2010
ACQUISITION: “Amish Bronze II” by New Mexico 1% for the Arts, 6' bronze wall relief for the Bernalillo County Courthouse, Albuquerque NM 2001
ACKNOWLEDGED in “The Erotic Art of Edgar Britton” by Jane Hilberry, published by “Documents of Colorado Art” Ocean View Books; forward by William Weaver 2001
FEATURED ARTIST in “Colores” PBS-TV series on contemporary New Mexico artists 1990
GRANT RECIPIENT: Allied Arts Group, Denver CO 1980
2001 to the present
GROUP and SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
Tierra Mar Gallery, Santa Fe NM
CODA Gallery, Palm Desert CA
GF Contemporary, Santa Fe NM
Craighead Green Gallery, Dallas, TX
Hulse Warman Gallery, Taos, NM
A Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Ventana Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
Sisko Gallery, Seattle, WA
Crossroads Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
Sculpture Ranch, Santa Fe NM
Shidoni Gallery, Tesuque NM
Nick Cindric Fine Arts, Boca Raton FL
DeGraaf Fine Art, Saugatuck MI and West Palm Beach FL
Crucible Gallery, Norman OK
Scotsdale Artport Gallery, Scotsdale AZ
1991-2000
"Magnifico!", monumental outdoor works, Museum of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM
"Food Shrine Show", represented by Shidoni Gallery, Santa Fe NM
"Old Media, New Ways ", Shidoni Contemporary Gallery, Tesuque NM
"Miniatures / 95", The Albuquerque Museum of Art, Albuquerque NM
“Summer Outdoor Sculpture Show”, Shidoni Gallery, Tesuque NM
“The Fine Art of Craft and Sculpture”, Cline-LewAllen Gallery, Santa Fe NM
“Miniatures/ 97”, The Albuquerque Museum of Art, Albuquerque NM
“SOFA Chicago”, represented by Zimmer Fine Arts, Navy Pier, Chicago IL
“Miniatures/ 99”, The Albuquerque Museum of Art, Albuquerque NM
C0MMISSIONS:
"Box Fall", 5' bronze fountain, Dallas TX
"Pas De Trois", 7' bronze sculpture, Sheboygan WI
"Melli-Fluous", 8' bronze fountain, Pasadena CA
"Chock Maul II", 20" bronze maquette, Scottsdale AZ
GROUP AND SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
Shidoni Gallery, Tesuque NM
Nick Cindric Fine Arts, Boca Raton FL
Crucible Gallery, Norman OK
The Woodlot Gallery, Sheboygan WI
Cynthia Woody Gallery, Scottsdale AZ
Cindric Meyer Gallery, Boca Raton FL
William Zimmer Fine Arts, Mendocino CA
Summer Outdoor Sculpture Shows, Shidoni Gallery, Tesuque NM
1970-1990
COMMISSIONS:
Samsonite Luggage Company, an original bronze sculpture edition, each year through 1990, Denver CO
University of Colorado, original bronze sculpture edition, Boulder, CO
Teton Exploration and Drilling Co, 7' bronze floor relief, Cheyenne WY
Colorado School of Mines, 4' bronze wall relief, Golden CO
"Ball in a Quilt", 6' bronze fountain, Beverly Hills CA
GROUP AND SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
Shidoni Gallery, Tesuque NM
Edgar Britton Gallery, Littleton CO
Eva Cohen Gallery, Chicago IL
Randi's Art Gallery, Cherry Creek, Denver CO
Denver Dry Gallery, Denver CO
The Woodlot Gallery, Sheboygan WI
Andrea Ross Gallery, Santa Monica CA
Summer Outdoor Sculpture Shows, Shidoni Gallery, Tesuque NM
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Bachelor of Arts, Metropolitan State College, Denver CO 1977
Seven year apprenticeship, Edgar Britton, bronze sculptor, Littleton CO 1974
Two year apprenticeship, Ole’ Jorgenson, wood sculptor, Des MoinesIA 1970
