Nature & Knowledge

Nov. 8, 2011 Element

2011-11-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

This is a sneak peek of a visual element that inspired my team's Prairie Line temporary installation--due to be installed on Tollefson Plaza this Friday. My team members are Janet Marcavage and Bret Lyon. Several other artist teams will be setting up temporary installation at different points along the Prairie Line.

Oct. 22, 2011 Cloud

2011-10-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

I'm preparing to do a temporary installation at Tollefson Plaza to celebrate the kick off of the Prairie Line redevelopment project. As part of my visual research I've been looking closely at objects and places related to trains. The back side of a train crossing sign makes a powerful contrast to the billowy clouds.

Oct. 11, 2011 Familiar

2011-10-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

These horse chestnuts have so many spikes per shell that they appear hairy. Having fallen off the tree, they have split open and now resemble butterflies. When trying to describe sculpture it is easy to revert to words for familiar objects. The forms here are an interesting interplay between shape and line.

Oct. 9, 2011 Connections

2011-10-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

Tacoma Artist Alice Di Certo has a photo-poster-collage on exhibit at the Tacoma Dome Links station that invites viewers to make connections (with thread & push pins) between themselves and others in the Tacoma community. It's part of the storytelling program, Voices of the City. The work reminds me of how a collection of photos evokes different connections for different people.

Oct. 8, Interrupted

2011-10-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

This crumpled chain link (in Pt. Defiance park) is a sculpture of intersecting lines. The repetition of the diamond shapes is interrupted by the stretched and compressed portions of the composition. What is lost in this 2D image is that the sculpture has a scooped/cup shape at the top.

Sept. 25, 2011 Cone

2011-09-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

Flat yellow petals radiating out draw the viewer into the "nest" where this sculpture sits. The light green cone shape, with its strong diagonal lines and symmetry, is very compelling. The bright sun highlight on the right and the shaded area give it a sense of volume.

Sept. 24, 2011 Seaweed

2011-09-24T17:09:00.000-07:00

The puffy packets of the seaweed leaves overlap one another--they start out paper thin at the base and then inflate at the tips. The color differential between the gray and yellow is subtle, but the negative spaces add much needed depth to the composition.

Sept. 18, 2011 Public Art

2011-09-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

For the past few months I've been participating, with other Tacoma artists, in a public art training program sponsored by the City of Tacoma. A recent assignment was to create a "gesture" and put it out for public viewing. My work is responsive to the waterfront and the sound. If you walk the Ruston Way waterfront, keep your eye out for it.

Sept. 16, 2011 Riot

2011-09-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

The Art Chantry show at Fulcrum Gallery is a riot of color, images, text, and history. I was amazed at how different each poster was, but there was a similarity to them that I couldn't put my finger on. My favorite part of the show is in the back room where the mechanicals are displayed with the final poster.

Sept. 14, 2011 Sunshine

2011-09-14T07:01:00.000-07:00

Sunshine in a jar. Cut up and canned, these peaches expose their inner color. Placed in close proximity, the forms' negative spaces are not very pronounced.

Sept. 11, 2011 Bulbous

2011-09-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

One of the things I like about fall is the arrival of the many interesting squash--the bulbous forms are inspiring. They seem to start off creating one shape and then move on to make another completely different shape all the while being one form.

Sept. 9, 2011 Engineering

2011-09-09T06:52:00.000-07:00

When I look at this dahlia I imagine rolling up paper to make the cone-like petals.While that would be relatively easy to do, it would be difficult to get the cones shaped and secured in a dome form. Looking closely at flowers makes me appreciate the engineering of botanical objects.

Sept 6, 2011 Petals

2011-09-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

The yellow and pink petals of this Dahlia have an almost stag horn quality in some places. Draping over, in and around, spent petals add to the composition. The deep green background really sets off the form.

Sept 2, 2011 Fungus

2011-09-02T09:17:00.000-07:00

This fleshy orange fungus reminds me of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen sculptures in that it appears soft and supple. The ridges and crevices, the overlaps, and the upwards orientation appeal to me.

August 30, 2011 Appreciation

2011-08-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

When you love an art object and then you learn about the how it is crafted, your appreciation for the artist increases exponentially. The Tacoma Art Museum had a great lecture about the history and process of creating Pendleton trade blankets this past Saturday. The blankets are part of the Chihuly exhibit in TAM's largest gallery. The lecture raised issues about globalization, market research, and the appropriation of cultural iconography.

August 16, 2011 Installation

2011-08-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

Driftwood, white-brown and craggy, is juxtaposed with the serenity of blue lapping water. This Fox Island scene is a great installation.

August 12, 2011 Focus

2011-08-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

The brilliant hot pink petals, a bit out of focus, provide a interesting contrast in color and form to the spindly, ice gray stems. It reads a bit like an abstract painting. The blotches of intense color provide a focus for looking deeper.

July 27, 2011 Pier

2011-07-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

The remnants of this pier pierce both the land and water. Blue, glassy water provides a nice contrast to the rough gray rocks. The wood pilings stand by like sentinels.

July 26, 2011 Pattern Wall

2011-07-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

A wall of color and pattern dominate the large TAM gallery displaying Chihuly's glass works and personal collections. Seen together, the wool trade blankets are a riot of color, pattern, and line that provoke wonder at the infinite possibilities for creating art.

July 6, 2011 Patterns

2011-07-06T06:38:00.000-07:00

The strong patterns of the rectangles, the solid white ones paired with the holes on the beige wall, provide a great contrast in presence and absence, enhanced by the vertical line down the center. The bushes are a powerful contrast (in form and color) to the patterned background.

July 3, 2011 Onion

2011-07-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

The glossy purple sphere seems at odds with the thin, white string-like roots that protrude from one end. But this onion combines the forms of a shaft, sphere, and treads to make an interesting sculpture.

July 2, Take Down

2011-07-02T07:25:00.001-07:00

Today (Saturday) is the last day that my installation "Composites" will be on view in the Woolworth Windows at 11th & Broadway. All my installations have their own life cycle--tomorrow I'll be un-installing in the early morning.

June 10, 2011 Within

2011-06-10T07:11:00.000-07:00

Giuseppe Penone's The Hidden Life Within is beautifully situated in the Frank Gehry designed addition to the Art Gallery of Ontario. This massive tree trunk was carved to expose the interior and is paired with lumber also similarly carved--the entire room reads like an installation. See More details, http://www.ago.net/Giuseppe-Penone-The-Hidden-Life-Within

June 6, 2011 Rainbow

2011-06-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

The Rainbow Bridge in La Conner provides an interesting compositional element to the landscape, arching across the channel and touching the sky. The bridge fits the environment rather than dominates it.

June 4, 2011 Graffiti

2011-06-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

This intriguing bit of graffiti is found along the Prairie Line corridor. I wonder if the artist is asking themself, or the viewer, this question? Besides the alignment of the letters below the white space, I find the placement of the Y and half of the O in the window depression a nice architectural highlight.

June 2, 2011 Within

2011-06-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

The gradation of purple on the inner petals of this iris contrasts to the speckled white/purple on the outer petals. The shapes of the inner and outer petals vary quite significantly. It reminds me of a sculpture within a sculpture.

June 1, 2011 Reflection

2011-06-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

By aligning the pier's deck with the land mass of Gig Harbor, the focus becomes the reflection intersecting with the actual pier. The horizontal and vertical lines create a new open block form.

May 31, 2011 Inspiring

2011-05-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

http://crosscut.com/2011/03/11/arts/20712/S.A.M.’s-exhibit-of-Nick-Cave--soundsuits-:-a-smiling,-sumptuous-journey/

Nick Cave's 10 ft. high wearable sculptures are an amazing combination of colorful textiles, objects, and forms. 'One of the most inspiring exhibitions I've seen in a long time. Part conceptual art, part sculpture, part performance art

May 28, 2011 Sited

2011-05-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

Now that there is access to the beach at Chambers Bay, more areas can be explored. The remnants of a building's walls sit like cards in the sand. This is a very linear sculpture that is perfectly sited to relate to the water, railroad tracks, and pier/walkway.

May 27, 2011 Prairie Line

2011-05-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Prairie Line that cuts through downtown Tacoma is going to be converted into public space, a place for walking/biking/art viewing. The existing embedded rails have a time-worn monumental quality that could be translated into large scale sculptures.

May 24, 2011 Regularity

2011-05-24T08:05:00.000-07:00

The cactus pads create a sculpture of segmented forms while the areoles create a regular pattern. The strength of the form is that it mixes a regular pattern with an irregular shape.

May 22, 2011 Revisit

2011-05-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

The Rhody has opened up a bit, revealing shriveled leaves ready to unfurl. It reminds of when artichokes open, becoming new forms with their pointy leaves splayed out. Here the new form will be big, soft and flouncy.

May 20, 2011 Mosaic

2011-05-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

This mosaic at Seattle Center captures the prickliness of pine needles and pine cones. The yellow, gold and beige tiles perfectly offset the image of the branch. Mosaics are amazing composites of colors.

May 19, 2011 Shadows

2011-05-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

The early morning sun casts the shadow of a lilac against my drapes. Breaking up the golden color, the bush becomes larger than life. Sometimes sculptures' shadows can rival their forms.

May 17, 2011 Display

2011-05-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

Display is an important part of the farmers market. Here the plants are juxtaposed with a Buddha sculpture; the scale works for the arrangement. When a sculpture's scale doesn't fit the location it can be really off putting, visually.

May 15, 2011

2011-05-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

The wrinkled petals of the Rhody are beginning to emerge from the somewhat furry sepals. The combination of textures, and bright versus neutral colors, reminds me of an Alexander McQueen gown. Fashion is wearable sculpture.

May 14, 2011 Sturdiness

2011-05-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

Raindrops weigh down and flatten the upper petals of this poppy. Many people think that sculptures need to be sturdy and able to withstand the outdoor weather, but there is a long tradition of art that is soft and pliable and not able to withstand the elements for very long. For example, origami and textile art.

May 11, 2011 Viewpoint

2011-05-11T13:00:00.000-07:00

Because the flowers face slightly different directions, the views of their yellow and green pistils vary greatly. The volume is not readily apparent until you get a a look from the side. Sculptures come alive when they provide vastly different perspectives depending on the viewpoint.

May 8, 2011 Dynamic

2011-05-08T08:41:00.000-07:00

The conical forms of these Hostas start off in the center very controlled. As the leaves move to the outer reaches they become a little wild and take on different shapes. The unexpected shapes point in different directions and the composition becomes dynamic.

May 5, 2011 Bold

2011-05-05T08:11:00.000-07:00

This close up of the tulip's stamen and the petal bases reveals a bold design. The overlapping segments don't line up perfectly, which adds to the visual appeal. Take away the yellow outline and the design loses its impact.

May 3, 2011 Works

2011-05-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

We're so used to the iconography of tulips, represented with a perfect pointy-egg shape. I like it when they expand so that the interior becomes visible. Here the overlapping yellow/red washed petals terminate in a deep purple. The color combination doesn't sound like it would work but it clearly does.

Apr 30, 2011 Re-purpose

2011-04-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

The starburst pattern of dandelions is made up of asymmetrical petals. Take the petals off the flowers and they look like yellow grass. Re-purposing shapes into different configurations leads to new ways of seeing forms.

Apr 29, 2011 Eye

2011-04-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

Looking a bit like coral, this potato eye is the sum of many parts. The small "hands" appear to reach toward the sky. The all white color makes this form appear to be made out of porcelain. While the pieces seem to be stuck together at random, the sculpture works together a a whole.

Apr 28, 2011 Unintended

2011-04-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

I like the variety of shape outlines and the composition of this artwork--it reminds me of both teeth and microscopic organisms. I don't think this is an intentional artwork; it is a water stained piece of cardboard stuck inside a window. But then, a lot of my sculptures have a life of their own and parts of them are unintended.

Apr 27, 2011 Mushroom

2011-04-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

The shapes, colors, and proportions of this bus stand (side view) remind me of a mushroom. Its sense of fungus is enhanced by the mossy roof. The form would translate well to a monumental sculpture.

Apr 26, 2011 Landscape

2011-04-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

I was fascinated by the landscape found on this piece of rotting lumber. At first I hadn't realized that I had captured the shadows in such high contrast. With sculpture, it's really great when you can get deep shadows that "explain" the contours of the form.

Apr 25, 2011 Miscalculation

2011-04-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

In trying to capture the forms that make up these branches, I inadvertently framed the sky with an interesting pattern. The droopy black lines break up the blue and white, creating an all together different form. Sometimes a miscalculation leads you to a new artistic vision.

Apr 24, 2011 Eggs

2011-04-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

Sitting among the peaks and valleys of an egg carton, these dyed eggs have a deep rich tone. The original eggs were brown, not white. Sometimes in art you need to start with a richer color to get a different result.

Apr 22, 2011 Review

2011-04-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

Here's the Tribune review of all the spring Spaceworks Tacoma installations (including mine). Once the Broadway farmers market opens in May I'll make a video about my installation. See, http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/22/1635931/peer-into-magical-windows.html

Apr 21, 2011 Fade

2011-04-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

The swath of purple fades as it approaches the edges of the petals. It reminds me of how watercolors saturate and inhabit paper. The green background makes these delicate forms pop.

Apr 18, 2011 Wayzgoose

2011-04-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

The "Beautiful Angle" team pulls a massive print (made with the help of a steamroller) at yesterday's Wayzgoose celebration at Kings Books. It was inspiring to see so many people interested in art and letter presses.

Apr 16, 2011 Water

2011-04-16T10:08:00.000-07:00

Jill Anholt's "Projecting Drop" references a Turkish bath found during the transformation of a City of Tacoma garage into an office building. The smoothness of the tiles, their green and blue color, and the ripple forms create a powerful sense of water.

Apr 15, 2011 Sticker

2011-04-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

I can't help but think that this bumper sticker IS conceptual art . . . art is all around us.

Apr 14, 2011 Opening

2011-04-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

I like the juxtaposition of the unopened and open flowers here. Closed it looks like a paintbrush, open it looks like a bento box. The pointy tips of the petals provide a little bit of tension for both versions.

Apr 10, 2011 Peel

2011-04-10T08:08:00.000-07:00

The peeling onion-skin bark on this tree creates a cascade of forms. It makes me think about how paper, folded and shaped, can create almost any form.

Apr 6, 2011 Consider

2011-04-06T08:27:00.001-07:00

This moss covered rock could easily be mistaken for a mountain covered in grass. The scale is deceptive. Artists often enlarge or miniaturize their subjects; it forces viewers to consider life in different ways.

Apr 3, 2011 Banner Up

2011-04-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

Here's my banner in situ on Pacific Avenue at 17th, between TAM and the history museum. There are many interesting, beautiful, and thought provoking Urban Forest banners along Pac Ave from 7th to 21st. They'll be on display until the end of May.

Apr 2, 2011 Urban Forest

2011-04-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

As part of the Urban Forest Project, a banner featuring my art work can be found along Pacific Ave (S. 7th to S. 21). The banners will be up through May and then they will repurposed into a bag and sold. The proceeds will go toward planting and maintaing trees in Tacoma. Tacoma’s Arbor Day celebration is today from 1pm-4pm (2pm ceremony) at Tollefson Plaza, across Pacific Ave. from TAM.

Mar 31, 2011 Big

2011-03-31T12:56:00.001-07:00

This incredibly large flat leaf, with its jagged edges and holes, reminds me of a lily pad. The background rocks provide a nice contrast to the color and texture. Not knowing the size of the rocks makes it hard to understand the form's scale.

Mar 30, 2011 Fleshy

2011-03-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

Jade plants have nice, fleshy green leaves. While the leaf shape is simple and regular, it is hard to replicate and still make the copies seem real. There is something unique about every form's direction, tilt, length, and roundness.

Mar 27, 2011 Segments

2011-03-27T08:52:00.001-07:00

While bamboo is used for lumber, food, medicine, baskets, musical instruments and more, I'm inspired by its segments. I like the subtle flaring out and crease where the parts meet, and how those elements are repeated over and over.

Mar 26, 2011 Faces

2011-03-26T09:42:00.001-07:00

These pansies reminded me of the chorus of pansies in Disney's Alice in Wonderland. Some botanical forms are so reminiscent of human forms that they are easily anthropomorphize. The little faces are so expressive.

Mar 24, 2011 Review

2011-03-24T08:35:00.001-07:00

The Weekly Volcano's Alec Clayton has written a review of "Composites" (see link here).

Mar 21, 2011 Step Off

2011-03-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

Here's the sculpture I've just roughed out. I had been inspired by an photo of something microscopic (plant cell? fungi?) that looked like an eyeball with blood vessels. As I worked the flat, flowing river shapes became geometric ridges. This piece still needs some refinement.

Mar 20, 2011 Shriveled

2011-03-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

The crocus, which were standing upright a few days ago, have had a rough time with the rain. Although a bit shriveled, they now have a richer color and more interesting texture. Some sculptures improve with a little weathering.

Mar 19, 2011 Innards

2011-03-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

The innards of a bell pepper, namely seeds, are a jumble of smooth disk forms. They look like they could be made of plastic or marble or silicone. It's the ambiguous texture matched with the randomness of the directional placement that makes this an interesting sculpture.

Mar 18, 2011 Landscape

2011-03-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

This "Sumo" orange not only has an interesting overall shape, but also deep crevices. Looking at just the top third of the fruit, the image becomes a volcano. The crevices add to the sense that this a landscape.

Mar 17, 2011 Article 2

2011-03-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Tacoma Weekly's Dave Davison has reviewed "Composites." (click here for the article)

Mar 13, 2011 Article

2011-03-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

See the "Paper Garden" article by Lisa Kinoshita on the Spaceworks Tacoma blog for some insights about my installation "Composites" now on display in the Woolworth Windows installation space on Broadway at 11th (click here for the article).

Mar 12, 2011 Sneak Peek

2011-03-12T18:31:00.000-08:00

Today I put up my installation, "Composites," at 11th & Broadway's Woolworth Windows as part of Spaceworks Tacoma. More info on it tomorrow.

Mar 11, 2011 Almost There

2011-03-11T08:24:00.000-08:00

'Getting close to being done with this sculpture. I still need to smooth out the last layer and give it a final sealing coat. Next week I hope to start a new sculpture inspired by fungi.

Mar 9, 2011 Depth

2011-03-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

At first I was fascinated with the depth of the corona (cup). The filaments seem to come out of an infinite cave. But then I became interested in the depth of field of the receding petals and sepals. Depth makes sculptures more compelling to me.

Mar 7, 2011 Kinetic

2011-03-07T07:01:00.000-08:00

Tulips come in many different sizes, shapes and colors. As they unfold their shape can change dramatically. The layered petals loosen and spiral out. To me, tulips are like a slow moving kinetic sculpture.

Mar 6 Down & Out

2011-03-06T08:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I de-installed Re-Present (this image was taken on the inside looking out). The black curtain has come down (literally) and the individual sculptural components have been removed, leaving the space empty for the next Spaceworks Tacoma artist. Stay tune for my next installation, Composite, which I'll install next weekend.

Mar 1, 2011 Suspended

2011-03-01T07:16:00.000-08:00

Leaves floating just below the surface of the water remind me of the flora and fauna seen suspended in bits of amber. I sometimes wonder what my work would look like coated in a clear, thick permanent medium. No doubt it would make my sculptures waterproof and able to be displayed outdoors.

Feb 27, 2011 Moment

2011-02-27T07:47:00.000-08:00

The large and delicate snowflakes grasp perilously to the top, center and bottom of the camellia's petals. Knowing that the flakes will fall or melt off soon, there is the urge to capture this tenuous moment. Artists are in the business of documenting fragile events.

Feb 25, 2011 In Progress

2011-02-25T08:27:00.000-08:00

The underlying structure of this sculpture is now complete. You might notice that this seems to have less text than my finished sculptures; for the base I use entire book pages, including the white margins. The final text layers will smooth out the form both visually and physically.

Feb 24, 2011 Bridge

2011-02-24T08:30:00.000-08:00

The rhododendron leaves are laden down with snow this morning. Bridging the gaps, the snow creates an illusion of snow covered mountains and valleys. The abundance of white ties the forms together.

Feb 23, 2011 Combo

2011-02-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

The toothy edges of these leaves lead the eye into the collection of segmented square-ish ball forms. It helps that the leaves have a repetitive star pattern. The combination of stair-step flat and the tight little wads is pleasantly surprising.

Feb 22, 2011 Push

2011-02-22T06:41:00.000-08:00

Spring is approaching (even though snow is predicted this week). Plants are beginning to push through the soil, pushing through boundaries to create their own abstract compositions.

Feb 20, 2011 Capture

2011-02-20T18:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a super clear, super cold day on the waterfront with many violent waves--which is unusual for the Puget Sound. And yet the waves provided a texture to the water that is often not seen. Art sometimes needs to shake up the natural order to make us appreciate the usual.

Feb 19, 2011 Start

2011-02-19T08:06:00.000-08:00

I've started on my new series of sculptures. These will be small, about the size of a hand, and inspired by mushrooms and nests. Here's the beginning of the first one with a third of the underlying structure constructed. More updates to follow.

Feb 18, 2011 Drop

2011-02-18T08:42:00.000-08:00

This drop of water takes on the texture of the leaf it occupies and brings in reflective light. It looks weighty and plump against the thin leaf. It reminds me of molten glass.

Feb 16, 2011 Variety

2011-02-16T07:26:00.000-08:00

This jumble of intersecting lines in this pile of sticks is visually interesting because of the varying thicknesses and shapes. When I create sculptures I often have to concentrate on creating variety with each aspect of the form.

Feb 14, 2011 Metaphor

2011-02-14T06:56:00.000-08:00

The lines converge and intersect, illuminated at critical junctures. A metaphor for Valentines Day.

Feb 13, 2011 Glossy

2011-02-13T08:24:00.000-08:00

I like how the big, smooth, waxy leaves provide a nest for the intricate puffs of the flowers. In my early sculptures I applied a semi-gloss coating to the surface but then I moved on to matte finishes. I don't think my work is suited to a full glossy finish, but I might try it sometime.

Feb. 9, 2011 Light

2011-02-09T06:49:00.000-08:00

The strong lighting in the sky makes the clouds look 3-dimensional. But the lack of lighting elsewhere flattens out the other forms. Lately I've been paying attention to lighting as I prepare images of my sculptures for a grant submission.

Feb 8, 2011 Swirl

2011-02-08T06:33:00.000-08:00

The ridges and valleys that make up this tree bark come together and flow apart, creating a flowing pattern. It makes me think of water and currents. The squareness of the photo works in this instance to concentrate the viewer on the detail of the form.

Feb 7, 2011 Capture

2011-02-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

When I took this photo I was attempting to capture the texture of tire tracks in the grass. What is more visually interesting is the shadow (it's me in my big down coat). Sometimes the unintended mistake is the key to a an interesting exploration.

Feb 6, 2011 Nodes

2011-02-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

One of the things I find inspiring about rhizomes is the interconnectedness of their nodes. Together they stretch out horizontally, but broken apart they can start new plants. It makes me think about connecting several sculptures together as well as breaking one apart to create new sculptures and installations.

Feb 3, 2011 Prow

2011-02-03T11:11:00.000-08:00

The 25' tall Viking ship prow sculpture at PLU by Paul Schweiss is a intriguing form. It is representational yet abstract, a fragment but monumental, a ship as well as a wave. The lines are truly elegant. It makes me consider how I might make more fluid sculptures.

Feb 1, 2011 Monumental

2011-02-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago it snowed tiny little snowballs. In looking closely at the snow I discovered this sprout. Its shape is abstract and monumental--it would translate well to a large, multi-story sculpture.

Jan 31, 2011 Fill

2011-01-31T07:00:00.000-08:00

HIgh tide turned these pier posts and decks into a composition of dots and lines. It reminds me that filling up the negative space can profoundly alter a form.

Jan 29, 2011 Felt

2011-01-29T10:31:00.000-08:00

Moss always strikes me as nature's felt. Here on this wall the bulbous mounds of moss form a topography of rounded hills and plush valleys. I wonder how I could emulate the form.

Jan 26, 2011 Web Again

2011-01-26T06:58:00.000-08:00

In the last 6 years I've created 11 installations. You can see images, videos, and info about them on my website's updated installation page, http://www.ryksenn.com/installations.htm. This year I plan to create small sculptures, but I've applied to a couple of installation opportunities and we'll see what happens.

Jan 25, 2011 Cube

2011-01-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

What was once a white concrete box that covered a stairwell at the Jupiter Hotel (Portland) has been transformed into a cube of art. The patchwork mural, each side with a different color theme, has softened an otherwise clunky piece of functional architecture. The form has been made into a point of interest.

Jan 24, 2011 Tilt

2011-01-24T07:02:00.000-08:00

I like the way that this huge cairn (outside the Portland Greyhound station) leans to one side at the top. It could have been a cone shape, but instead the top is mashed down and tipped. The change in orientation makes this an exciting form.

Jan 22, 2011 Lights

2011-01-22T08:19:00.001-08:00

The storefront, traffic, and far away building lights make Portland seem like a jeweled city. The light dots add an essence of infinity.

Jan 20, 2011 Web

2011-01-20T14:16:00.000-08:00

From time to time in 2011 I'll be posting about my art process. As a way to share my work I make frequent updates to my website. I just finished updating my sculptures page, see http://www.ryksenn.com/sculpture.htm. (Click on an image to see it bigger and use your arrow key for a slide show.)

Jan 19, 2011 Weight

2011-01-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

The stone, slightly askew, backed up to the disarray of the swaying grass, makes me think about how the weight of forms can be used to create a subtle tension.