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All of my
sculptures are made of aluminum, copper or brass. I use a plasma torch
to cut the metal into the desired shape. I then pierce, engrave, drill
and sometimes paint or gold-leaf the metal. Piercing my aluminum sculptures
allows neon placed behind the metal to shine through, and sometimes a
layer of glass is placed between the neon and the piercings, creating
small, jewel like patterns of richly saturated light.
As a glass
blower, I strive to create simple shapes that have an attenuated feel.
I create
each piece of neon glass in my work by hand.
Some of my sculptures have a metal "shape" that is "attenuated"
with vibrant lines of neon color and light. At other times I illuminate
the metal shapes from behind, so that the background walls become an illuminated
canvas of light.
Sometimes
I'll add dimmers to pieces to allow the viewer to soften and control the
intensity of the neon light. The soft sensual lines I choose to portray
in neon are often in direct juxtaposition to the hard-edged "industrial"
look of the sheet metal sculptures I make. As
in any neon art work there are wiring, mounting and electrical considerations
which often challenge the original esthetic intent. Often the single most
difficult part of creating my work is to balance these technical considerations
with my original sketches and create a piece that worksboth technically
and artistically.
The majority
of my work is figurative, and flows together as an organized series. Each
sculpture shows a different perspective, each is unique, and the series
becomes it's own body of work. Sometimes this attention to one idea or
concept makes me a more focused artist; I'm free to let go and create
really vibrant work, since I'm not casting about for "ideas"
but rather the "idea" becomes many different works.
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