Sculpture
presentation at the Festival of Arts 2000
For the last 10 years
I have exhibited work at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. This
has been a long running show associated with the world famous Pageant of
the Masters. The show runs two months during the summer. Two
hundred thousand people view the Pageant of the Masters during this period.
Artists from the south coast of Orange County and other inland cities are
invited to submit work for evaluation and possible exhibit at the Festival
of Arts. There are 160 artists who are jurried and selected to be
in this show. I have been fortunate enough to qualify as an exhibitor
for ten years. The Festival of Arts is very good exposure and a good
training ground for an artist to gain professional experience.
During this last year,
I have become interested in the arts of Native America. I have visited
many museums and seen the beautiful work created by the first Americans
prior to influence from Europe. I have endeavored to allow these
designs to influence my work. The theme of the Pageant of the Masters
is California Dreamers. I
feel that the "dream-time" of California was the spirituality of the aboriginal
peoples long before the commercialism and exploitation by Europeans.
My display in the year of 2000 AD is dedicated to those Native Americans
who lived on the coast of California 5000 years ago.
The image above is entitled
"Orca". It is a sculptural representation of a killer whale.
I produce a series of sculpture called 'Rockfish' that are fish shapes
made from steel that surround a natural surf tumbled stone. When
I encounter an arching stone, it suggests a leaping whale. This stone
alone weighs 98 lb. and is of a beige granite. It retains it's natural
form. The whale was cut by hand with oxyacetylene torch from 1/2"
thick steel plate. All of the edges have been smoothly contoured
by grinding. Detail work (eye, teeth and designs) is made from stainless
steel. The design work consists of stainless steel arc welding bead
burned onto the steel plate. The form and design are reminiscent
of the Native American tribal designs from the Pacific Northwest. The orca,
or killer whale, Shamu, is one of the most respected spiritual creatures
of the sea. I have attempted to portray my respect for the ancient
Americans who paddled canoes within the domain of these living gods.
Andromeda,
Lady in Chains
The
other side of my exhibit at the Festival of Arts contains several sculptures.
"Andromeda, Lady in Chains" is made from steel found objects and is a representation
of the female form. She is held together by links of chain and has
"hair" of bicycle chain.
Other sculptural works
can be seen in this image. I have formed several stone bowls from
natural rocks, much like the Native Americans of long ago used to process
their food. These bowls are identified as being contemporary with
my "makers mark". A small decorative button is embedded into the
bowl's stone matrix which clarifies that these primitive stone bowls are
not from ancient Native American origin, but rather, from the year 2000.
They are appreciation of the skill and ascetics of the 'first people'.
The
logo button is formed from stainless steel and has my initial, "W", and
the Roman numeral "MM" for the year 2000 carved upon it's polished surface.
Each stone bowl bears this mark.
Within the assemblage
of sculpture on this side of my display you will also see a pelican form
made from burnished stainless steel holding a primitive stone bowl between
it's stylized wings.
The pelican is an
indicator of good fishing. When the sardines are present in huge
schools, pelicans can be seen sitting upon the surface of the water waiting
for an opportunity to feed. The pelican season means that you will catch
many fish. They are the first indicators of the arrival of the bait fish.
I have mixed the media of coarse black basalt stone with contemporary stainless
steel. The contrast between the ancient primitive and contemporary
high-tech materials is my attempt to forge a remembrance between THE NOW
and our prehistoric ancestors.
For more images of
the Pelican Bowl click on this link: Pelican
Bowl
Also seen is a
fountain shaped floor lamp constructed of plates of galvanized / patinated
steel. The top is formed from galvanized steel cable.
Please see the image
of steel sculpture in a cactus garden. CactusGarden
I hope this brief
tour of my display at the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts 2000 has been of
interest.
Back to Index page. 