Dot
This most recent body of artwork, affectionately known as “Dots,” is an explosion of color and texture. These works are, in their nascent stages, intuitively worked so that each finished piece is a surprise. All dots begin as a round wooden-backed styrofoam core. The foam is then carved into a domed shape. Irregularities are welcomed as serendipitous gifts. Multiple layers of fiber-reinforced plaster comprise the muscle and bone of the piece.
Once the form is strong and sinewy, the layers of skin are applied. Added then are several coats of color-tinted plaster, which harden, only to be sanded smooth again. More layers, more colors, and more sanding allow the piece to gradually take on a presence of its own. High spots from lower layers announce themselves after repeated sanding, leaving one to contemplate possible metaphors to one’s own life and bodily creation. Are we not, each of us, brought to our own fruition by life’s cycle of giving and taking away? As a final gesture, the moment of grace in each piece is recognized. It is not perfect but complete. The surface is polished, and then polished once again. What results is a microcosm of a life, presented with maximum care and shine.
