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ARTIST
STATEMENT
Metal
heated in the forge and hammered, or cold-formed under
pressure, assumes plasticity that can be manipulated to
mimic qualities of growth, movement, and stability. Inspired
by my direct experience with botanical, aquatic and atmospheric
phenomena, I have developed a visual vocabulary with which
I explore through metal the natural world in relation
to the body and to architecture.
Two
decades of forging experience informs my sculptural aesthetics,
which are grounded in the processes of handforging and
coldforming iron and bronze. When designing public art
work, I take into consideration the surrounding geography,
architecture, use, and history of the location to produce
a design that is memorable and appropriate to the site.
Transcending conventional boundaries between traditional
blacksmithing and contemporary monumental sculpture intensifies
my standards and practices. My large work has the same
level of finesse and refinement as my small work. For
larger pieces, I make the maquettes at the anvil. All
steps are meticulously documented and then repeated at
full scale with larger tooling. I gain knowledge moving
from human scale work to monumental work and back again.
Forging merges with engineering concepts and methods of
structural steel construction, resulting in shapes that
make use of the best qualities of the material: flexibility
and strength. This incorporative method honors both the
historic traditions and contemporary uses of iron and
bronze.
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