Today I had the chance to meet with an interesting group of sculptors who work in stone. After hearing Michael Rizza speak at the Grand Theatre's Expressions! Selections Gallery Talk in April, I knew I wanted to include him in this project. So, I ventured outside of my normal geographic range for artists and make the drive to Walnut Creek. The perk for my travel was that I got to talk to five sculptors, not just Michael - including Dave Matthews whose assemblage work I've admired at previous Expressions! shows.
I'm not including any photos in this post because I don't have photo releases from the artists yet, but the photos will come later. Today was mostly about talking to the artists to start understanding who they are and see what I'm about. I plan to return for more info and photos soon. There are a couple things that stood out for me today. My first observation was that these artists are unique among the artists that I have worked with because they work together on an ongoing basis. I was surprised when I walked into the studio and all five of them were working in a fairly small space. They get together twice a week for several hours and have been - in various locations and with some changing people - for years. Someone observed that sculpting stone is difficult to do in a home studio because of the noise and dust, so a separate studio is almost needed for this type of work. However, I don't think that explains their working together, although it is clearly cheaper to have many people paying toward use of the space. I get the feeling that this group really likes to be together. They all seem to have a connection to Michael and have become connected to his work. Because Michael has macular degeneration and is legally blind, some of the other sculptors help him with his projects and drive him to the studio. It's a testament to Michael's personality as well as the quality of his work that people feel drawn to be a part of his circle. Another thing that stood out for me today was Dave Matthews' comment that sculpting stone is about reduction. I know very little about sculpture, so I hadn't really thought about this part of it. To make a sculpture out of clay or some other materials, you can add and subtract. With stone, you can really only take away. I remember when Cash Bryan told me that he often started a photo shoot be eliminating all light and then adding it back in. That simple observation threw me because I always felt my photos were too dark or I needed as much light as possible to get the focus right, so I would look for the most well lit area to start with. Working to "reduce" a stone to a desired shape instead of building it brings certain limitations but also maybe a clarity of focus? Food for thought for my photographic process... Several of the artists asked me to touch their work. What other type of artist does that!?! (Fabric artists, maybe?) In photography we would flip out. The tactile quality of the materials is part of the allure of working with stone though and the physicality of the work as well. The artists enjoy the physical motions of chiseling and sanding and they appreciate the feel of the stone under their hands. It's not a feeling that I really relate to with my work. Even with my paper collages, I have chosen my material (magazine pages) for its cheapness, color, and ability to tear the way I want. I got the feeling that Dave was thinking of making me try to chisel some stone next time...they just love what they are doing so much and want to share the fun!
1 Comment
Abhilasha
6/13/2019 03:03:17 am
I am looking forward to seeing the session's photos. Love your work Tiffanie
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April 2022
AuthorTiffanie Heben is a photographer who has been inspired by the artists in her community |