The Work Described:
Item 1, primary, a 3-D piece:
Two modest older three dimensional gentlemen, both a bit chubby, stand together in conversation on a narrow platform. They appear amused: one is clearly pleased & smiling, perhaps having just shared a joke or told a humorous story. The other listens, a bit bemused, but enjoying the moment.
The figures are realistic, but rustic & rough, with faded metallic surfaces.
They stand in front of a two dimensional galaxy of shooting stars, or perhaps it is a greenboard extensively marked up with complex curves & intersecting lines. The platform could be a station for some unspecified transportation system, or it could be a strip of beach. It is dotted with odd dark elongate half dome “boulders” that on close inspection appear to be weather worn: multi-colored, with shallow fissures, and lumps. The surface of the platform has a hard to see design: it takes a very close look to find the two figures stand on a row of dark strange faces…
Item 2, secondary, digital photography:
This photo of a mixed media sculpture, taken in late afternoon light that is almost orange in tone, casting long deep shadows. The light from the left illuminates and shines through scratched & broken sections of acrylic onto three concrete figures standing in a conversational group among an unusual assortment of objects. Is this odd scene a sculpture park? Who are these people & why are they here?
The lighting is dramatic. While the left side of the photo is so bright as to be nearly white, the far right is the dark side: sharp black shadows of the figures are thrown up against a dark background lit up to a deep orange and patterned with a spider’s web of shadow created by the “wall” of cracked scratched acrylic.
Item 3, tertiary, mixed media based on a lino cut print:
Two rather mysterious softly outlined figures, a man and a woman, stand together amid a whirl of leaves and rippled lines: the air currents are as visible as the figures or the leaves which fly loose from the tree at left. The figures are transparent, gentle, & ghostlike; they stand barefoot on or in an area of soft brightness that is more cloud than ground. The colors are soft, the tones are dark greenish black, soft yellow to a peachy or coppery color. The print shows the texture of the thick paper.
The Work Selection:
My selection of work for Flotsam & Jetsam was not based on extended consideration: there was not very much time to choose once we decided to change our work for a March show.
And I was so pleased with my new metallic look resin figures that I wanted to show them off.
I liked the idea of sharing my newest figures with others. And I liked the challenge of getting my new piece properly mounted & complete for the show (although the timing for completing the presentation along with my commitment to cook a RW Monday dinner was terrible!!!).
The other two pieces were selected to be compatible with my newest Conversation (number VI).
