Emissaries of Enigma

July 4 through August 29 on view at ArtReach gallery 1126 SW Park Ave, Portland, a show of four sculptures, together called: Emissaries of Enigma. Selected by the curator of ArtReach, these pieces span the last four years, mostly from a Venus de Milo and doll arm period in 2018.

The exception is a nonfigurative, compression/expansion piece called, Dwelling 19 x 11 x 11 inches. The process of formation is unique, and to my knowledge, exclusive to my sculpture practice. It is a metaphor for process itself, the rhythm of becoming, digestion and gestation. This is dwelling as in mulling over ideas and experience, until something assert itself, something that had to speak.

 Miss 23 x 8 x 8 inches 

has several points of origin, including a reference to the armless figure of Venus de Milo in the Louvre. This piece also originally had arms, broken away with ceremony, the wounded areas covered over with black glaze and red oxide. the emotional intensity is offset by humor and humanity and attention to the surface, it’s sculpted texture and glazing as event (See upcoming post: Glazing Mystified)

Angel of Abundance

21.5 x 15 x 9 inches

This piece draws on Art Brut and Folk art forms, as though it compelled me to create it regardless of tradition or logic. It is both indulgent and generous, childish and transcendent. To make art like this, I have to trick myself to be forgetful of artistic standards, while following more obscure guidance and the logic of engineering several cantilevering arms.

Helios Jr.   19 x 15 x 13 inches

The lead photo of this post and the adjacent profile image are the same portrait bust, showing my ability with poignant expression and fantasy combined. The composition of radiating hands came to me as a clear image in my head, as though saying, “You must look at this. You can go further…”

Avatar for andy