Woman as Sculpture

Sculpture is too often seen as macho man's work, yet there has always been talented sculptors who happen to be women.

Two articles in New York Times style magazine epitomize the dichotomy.

The first article is by Pilar Viladas, is about Woman as Object. (Not Again!)
Stephen Bayley, the English critic, has a new book, "Woman as Design: Before, Behind, Between, Above, Below"

He states "How on earth could you design such a thing, so flawlessly functional while infinitely beguiling too?" ( He sounds like Professor Harry Higgins from My Fair Lady.) Borders Books :"Description: A completely original reappraisal of that most familiar, yet mysterious, of things, the female body."

(Why does this make me want to scream "Who? not What!")

Bayley created design briefs for various areas of the female body. The breasts are "self sealing nutritional resevoirs allowing flexibel responses to unpredictable demand cycles," the subsidiary purpose include being "tactile objects exciting powerful, if confused, urges in Males." Bayley says "In any given age, the ideal woman is the embodiment of (Male) ideals and fears."

I find this utterly boring because Mr. Bayley, like so many men isn't remotely interested in Who is in that female body. All the attention is focused on the package. Zero interest in content.

Which is perfectly illustrated by the Dolce & Gabbana ad (photo above) also in the NYT's style magazine. It's very seductive. Scarlett Johansson appears to be channeling Madonna, who was evoking Marilyn Monroe, who was lit like Marlene Dietrich, who was citing Jean Harlow. Throw in some Cindy Sherman and you have an icon of desire made of smoke and mirrors fogged up by collective heavy breathing.

"Every man I knew went to bed with Gilda... and woke up with me." Rita Hayworth

Sculpture and Snakes

Snakes are a common theme in folk art as canes, and as powerful images. Here's a little something for the Halloween soapbox.

Here are two of my snakes. (If you can't find it, you've just goota make it yourself.) The first two shots are of a snake I made from a cedar root. I only added one tooth and the eyes. Last photo is of the dreaded Wisteria Spiral Snake. When I found it in the trash, I couldn't believe that anyone could throw away something so cool. The vine wrapped around a column for multiple 360s. Brought it home and added checkers for the eyes, carved the mouth, added the tail and Voila! Folk Art

What isn't cool is when people take their "little" pet reptiles after they've grown too large for their cages and dump them in the wild. Florida is just waking up to the problem. The US Geological Survey released a report saying that 5 giant non-native species, boa constrictors, anacondas and pythons pose a high risk to wildlife. (Notice they didn't say pose a risk to humans. .. ... ... yet)

Read the chilling article if you can find it by Burkhard Bilger, titled "Swamp Things" in the New Yorker April 20, 2009, page 80. It's amazing what we do out of desire and ignorance. "It's pretty, it's cool, it's bad!" It is an exotic animal and what happens to it when we can no longer care for it in captivity? The answers aren't pretty.

Here's a link to the abstract

The article focuses on Burmese pythons, which are now breeding in Florida. They mature and reproduce quickly and will eat anything. Burmese implies tropical but researchers have found that the species native habitat reaches up to the Himaylias. That means the python’s potential range is roughly a third of the contiguous United States. Yikes!

Think about a 6 foot alligator, how strong it is, then click on this Youtube to see how well it fared with a 13 foot python. Remember that pythons can grow to be over 20 long. Happy Halloween.

Sculpture and Playing With Your Food

These photos are making the email office joke circuit. They were a forward of a forward so I don't know much about them or their creator Eclisse, They can be found on Photobucket.

Enjoy them as part of the fine art of playing with your food. The last of the egg in eggshell pram is brilliant.

Sculpture and Landscape Design

Not too much art got done this summer. I've been working on a bigger scale. Photos of Gracewood Studio, south side redesign and landscaping. First photo is of building shortly after we bought the property six years ago. It stayed like that (plus weeds!) until this summer. All the rest happened this summer.

I used the concrete slabs taken out of the driveway for the gazebo's stairs and landing. Test paint on the gazebo works just fine, it's a perfect garden green and sets the structure into the yard. Hated the white paint.

It's funny, I don't think I sat in the gazebo twice in the five years previous to this redo. Now that the space is organized, I'm drawn to it to sit and take a short break. Short breaks because I need to finish up everything- boulders sited, plants planted and mulched before the rain and cold begin.

Water Kiss

I've had Water on the brain for several years. It's inspired my Nature of Water sculpture series. Always looking for how others treat the subject of water....

Water Kiss is a delightful video that evokes deeper thoughts on water's and life's ephemeral nature. It's elemental, literally, in it's use of materials: water, air, sunlight, love.

The flim is water stop-motion experiment by Sam3 filmed in Alicante, Spain more info: sam3.es

Shadows on Stone is One Year Old.

I began Shadows On Stone one year ago,on my birthday-10/21. In looking for other blogs writing about sculpture I found that sculpture is in the same category as walks on the beach: everyone likes the idea, but very few go IN the water. So THANK YOU to all of you who've joined me in thinking about sculpture.

Please excuse me, 'cause I'm going to have another slice of pear pie.

Sculpture and Cobalt Design Works

I've known Jennifer Corio for several years through Pacific Northwest Sculptors. It's good to see her business Cobalt Design Works is up and thriving.

Cobalt Design Works is artist Jennifer Corio and craftsman Dave Frei. Together they create custom architectural and sculptural elements using a wide variety of metals and fabrication techniques.
Read more about their background here.

Cobalt Design Works designs distinctive gates, railings, doors and signs that provide clients with functional art. Their metalwork creates visual and tactile experiences for people, enhancing the spaces that surround them. They also design and build sculpture for public and private collections. Their innovative and highly aesthetic designs merge art and architecture.

See Cobalt Design Works website and blog.