I've been exploring the world of assemblage (art created from found objects) and playing with the idea of sculpting in metal and stone for a couple of years now. I was very encouraged when I sold my first two assemblage pieces. Backward Bend was an abstract piece that sold at my first solo art show in 2017. It was made from rusty, metal banding and set on a base of Oklahoma flagstone. It looked like a human doing a backward bend - it had a feeling of energy, power and motion. The second piece, totally different from the initial one, was entitled Parts Unknown ( yes, I followed Anthony Bourdain on his world excursions.) It was made from found objects that I collected on the beach - wood, copper wire, a piece of iron and a small rusted metal rod. No telling where the parts came from, weathered and old, tumbled by the sea; they floated to my corner of the universe - they just spoke to me. I sold that one after entering it in a juried exhibition in Pearland, Texas.
After studying quite a few books on the subject, I was hooked and I wanted to share two books that are my favorites. I purchased the first one titled The Art Of Found Objects from author Robert Craig Bunch after hearing his wonderful presentation in January 2017. In this book, Robert interviewed more than sixty contemporary Texas visual artists who work in assemblage. A great read! The second book I enjoyed reading was Miracle In The Scrap Heap - The Sculpture of Richard Stankiewicz. I'm going to look for his sculpture at my next trip to the Museum Of Fine Arts Houston. I found this one in the Rosenberg Library, a 115 year old gem of a library in Galveston, Texas. The book covers a comprehensive survey of the art of Stankiewicz (1922-1983) showing his rusty, welded iron sculptures and cast - off steel creations that are just amazing! So if you want some interesting summer reading, visit your local library and dig in ... you never know what you'll find when you go the art section. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
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