ARTIST STATEMENT

My current works are an examination of the beauty found in architectural and industrial forms. Materials such as concrete, glass and stone are used throughout my work as a means to enhance the forms and influence the viewer to think about construction of building. These materials are typically used in the center of my works to give a sense of importance. Concrete, in particular, has the reference of permanence which implies a quality or state that is unchanging. My work references the characteristic of being everlasting as the effects of manmade objects continue throughout the generations. When I incorporate glass or stone, I create a juxtaposition between the permanence of the metal with the fragility of glass or the pureness of the stone. I gravitate making symmetrical like forms with the metal and other materials for most of my work. It helps each piece become more unified and simplistic. Though my work is minimalistic I add in small details to elevate the form such as rivets. When I use rivets they are used as either functional or decorative components. This form of process heavily relates to machinery and the industrial forms I’m referencing. Process in general is an important aspect throughout my work. I fabricate hollow constructed geometric sculptures from soldering sheet metal together. Then to create texture, I use etching or electroforming to get a natural more organic surface. When I’m incorporating other materials, each process is specific to each medium. I either cast or carve what I’m working with and in creating more symmetrical forms I use a lathe to carve for creating almost perfect structures.

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-Morgan Calabrese