sculptural preferences

["Stacy Shure" <shurefamily@zzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Norman:

In working with sculpture on a truly "grand scale" there is also the added
benefit of different dimensions of challenge.  No longer am I simply working
with the stone and wondering if my design will be allowed by the rock and
will emerge as intended.  There is also the challenge of physical
completion, challenges of tools and efficiency, effacy of methods tried and
true on smaller pieces, and the stature of a stone once sculpted with large
presence and planes.  I'm not sure if my words are thoroughly communicating
what I mean.  Once again you are challenging me to think in verbal, literary
terms of something that is a feeling and process.  There is an immediacy and
intimacy in smaller works that is not as intense with large pieces, but
those feelings are replaced by something else.  It's just difficult to
describe.  Any mistakes or flaws are magnified, just as the accomplishment
seems to be at times.

Then the host of challenges, once the piece is ready for installation, is
magnified by the engineering challenges involving presentation, placement
and installation.  Most sculptors that work on a much smaller scale never
realize how much actual construction and engineering knowledge goes into the
installation of a monumental piece.  This is where sculpture as an art
bisects with other trades and technical knowledge.  That is the part that
challenges me the most and I am in awe of sculptors that work on a large
scale and deal with these issues all the time.  At this point collaboration
and dependence on others is required and makes the art less personal and
immediate.  Sometimes it goes well, and is successful and sometimes it is
what conrupts the creative process involved in making the piece.

I don't mean to sound harsh about that last point, however horror stories
abound about the financing process (municipal art, commissioned pieces and
art by committee), to installation problems when contractors and laborers do
not understand that their work is support for a piece of "art."  I'm sure
others who work on large pieces regularly can comment on this more fully and
coherently than I.

I do believe that one large piece seen by the public - which is not viewed
favorably - will leave a longer lasting impression than a smaller piece that
a viewer sees and does not like!

Now Norman - on a separate note, were you thinking about becoming this
board's moderator?  It's a wonderful idea because you have sparked more
discussion and provoked such wonderful comments and input from so many
people!  Good job on throwing out ideas for us to consider and comment on.
I think that discussions like this contributes greatly to our appreciation
of our own art, as well as expanding our potential for carves we might not
have thought about!

Stacy Shure

It has been really interesting to review the responses to my initial
question about why people prefer working on a certain scale. There is
also quite a lot of consensus.