On and off for the last 5-6 years I've been working with a series I call Pylons... long, narrow, wall hung boxes in sets of two or three, often in varying lengths. I don't recall what prompted the series but basically it was simply a matter of applying my same painting techniques to a different type of support. I noticed that sometimes my galleries would display them free standing but since the backs were open with hanging wire, placing them was problematic.So... I asked my fabricator (that would be J.) to build a set of three that would stand alone, not be hung. The problem to either solve or ignore was how would I stabilize these forms so they would stay upright and not tip over and cause havoc! One thought was small additions to the lower sides to broaden the base just a bit... this is still a thought in progress as you can see, it's still subject to tipping. Geeze... !
So... I took them to Alabama Art Colony, not only to work on but to pick the brains of both artist peers and mentors. Consequently, I came away overloaded with ideas... if I followed through on all, I could field quite a large show of nothing but pylons! Once home, I found my equilibrium and I realized I would need to follow my own lead, let these suggestions gel for awhile and then proceed with what feels right. They could be called close to finished, I'm not displeased but at the same time, not satisfied that the are all they can be. Here is a detail of the bases... I haven't made good photos and don't know if I will... not just yet anyway.
On another note, I've happened upon an artist I had not known of before... Anne Truitt, a relativly unknown minimalist of the DC Color Painters (Kenneth Noland, etc) who worked primarily on this same type of structure... would love to see the exhibit of her work which is being shown now at the Hirshorn in DC! She's not only a fine artist but kept journals (now published) detailing her career which began after marriage and children... a bunch of us would connect with that!
4 comments:
Ha....get Christy L to go see the show and see if she can tell how they are put together...or if there is info in the show. At least would be a good day out for Christy, I bet.
I'd rather go to the show WITH Christy! I LOVE DC!
how about anchoring them with bags of sand or cement?
The next group we build will be lighter so anchoring might be feasible... these three are solid wood planks and would likely tip anyway. I think I'll have to adhere them to larger square boards.
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