Robert T. Webb Sculpture Garden
Hello. I'm Robert Webb. Thank you for visiting the sculpture garden here at the Creative Arts Guild. This garden is for everyone. The works gathered here represent many forms of modern and contemporary sculpture. You may find that you like some better than others, and that's why we offer a wide range of work: so that many people will find something that they enjoy. The sculptures in the garden are mostly "abstract" or "non-representational." That means that the artist chose not to create a sculpture that looked like something in nature, like a person or a tree. Sometimes people will ask "what is it supposed to be?" It's just supposed to be a sculpture. Anything that you see in it is fine. It may not be the artist's intention, but if you connect with the work in a way that allows you to see something there, then you're just being an engaged viewer. While works made from metal and stone seem durable, they actually can be quite fragile. Please help us to protect these works for generations to come by not touching them or sitting on them. I hope you'll enjoy your time here at the sculpture garden, and I encourage you to visit the exhibits on display at the Creative Arts Guild, as well. Thank you!
In "Two By" North Carolina sculptor Robert Winkler combines artistry and engineering to create an architectonic wooden structure that asks viewers to consider the intersection of natural beauty and human creativity. The sculpture is an example of assemblage, a common sculptural technique in the mid- to late-20th century in which the artist combines existing or created parts into a new work of art. Which other sculptures in the garden are examples of assemblage?
William Wareham's "Duende" derives its title from a Spanish artistic term that suggests a heightened state of emotion, expression and authenticity. The California artist has clocked the steel sculpture in a unifying layer of white paint, and it's placement in front of a magnolia grove was no accident. If you're not viewing the work while the magnolias are blooming, image the scent of the blooms and their white petals as a backdrop to this monumental work.
"Domaine" by Chattanooga-based artist John Henry is a small example of the sculptor's long-term exploration of constructivist art. In Henry's work, rods and planes intersect; and the tension in those connections and the space around them form the artistic core of the sculpture. Henry's work often towers as high as 100 feet into the air, but "Domaine" presents his concepts on a scale where the viewer can examine it closely. Unlike his monumental pieces, which require multiple assistants and large equipment, Henry created this work exclusively on his own.
In "O Positive," Chicago artist Michelle Goldstrom-Lanning gives a modern spin to the ancient art of bronze casting. The title refers to a blood type, and the artist has cleverly used large scale versions of blood cells in this sculpture. The textural elements on each piece mimic the appearance of blood cells under high powered microscopes. If you look carefully, you can identify the items Goldstrom-Lanning used to create the texture. Here's a hint: they come from a very popular board game!
The clean distilled form of "Axe" by Southwest sculptor Frank Morbillo suggests that simplicity and scale make a potent combination. Like Brancusi before him, Morbillo abstracts an object by reducing it to its most basic forms. The smooth surface of the patinated steel is interrupted by a bronze insert that adds a textural point of interest and also reinforces the connection of the title to the object. What other works in the garden are composed of mixed materials?
Some artists use color or texture to give their ideas life. What does New York sculptor Judith Steinberg use? In her three aluminum sculptures here -- "Saturday Strut," "Opening the Shut" and "On Tempo" --Steinberg explores form. By limiting her palette to only white in these works, she emphasizes the way she has shaped the material, allowing the viewers eyes to explore where she cut and bent the aluminum. Do these sculptures remind you of anything you find in everyday life? What do Steinberg's titles tell you about what she had in mind as she made the works?
Canadian sculptor Ryan McCourt is part of a rich tradition of welded steel sculpture that flourished at the University of Alberta. Compare his "Honky Tonk" with Roy Mills' "Blue Slide." Both are composed of pieces of metal welded together. How are they different? McCourt's body of work focuses on using found objects to create sculpture that is representational, in this case a life-size upright piano. The rusty patina links the pieces together and gives the sculpture a vintage feeling, as if it were found coated by dust in an old building.
What might have inspired the title of Roy Mills' welded steel sculpture "Blue Slide?" This is no playground slide. The interaction of the pieces Mills has yoked together suggests an avalanche moving down the side of a craggy mountain. A Canadian who spent extensive time in Japan, Mills is influenced not only by the welded metal traditions at the University of Alberta but also Japanese aesthetics and philosophy. Mills worked as an assistant to Sir Anthony Caro, and the great British sculptor's work is a major inspiration to Mills.
The commanding presence of "Simoon" seems to perfectly echo the terrain of North Georgia, but Ken Macklin's striking work takes its names from the strong, hot, sand-heavy winds that blow across the Sahara and Arabian deserts. How does the artist create a work of several tons that evokes the wind? Look at the undulating forms Macklin chooses and how he suspends them between two open forms. The influential American critic Clement Greenberg hailed "Simoon" as a masterpiece when Macklin added the open forms that elevated the body of the sculpture. This work was the only piece in the rooftop sculpture garden of the Alberta Gallery of Art before taking its new home in Georgia.
"Fallen" by North Carolina sculptor Kyle Van Lusk is a curious mix of industrial and spiritual concepts. The heavy steel the sculptor chose and the yellow industrial paint with which he accented it gives the impression of an object having dropped to earth and imbedded in the soil. The strong vertical elements read as wings, however, and suggest the notion of fallen angels. The interaction of the sculpture with the earth itself also alludes to the Biblical fall of man. The beauty of abstract sculpture is that allows for as many interpretations as the viewer can imagine. What do YOU see in "Fallen?"
Austrian sculptor Caroline Ramersdorfer has placed work on four continents and her work was prominently displayed at the Beijing games. "Inner View Deeper," like many of her pieces, is delicately carved from white marble. Ramersdorfer uses traditional tools like chisels and hammers and power tools to create her work, but she is intrinsically involved in the process from conception to completion. The final aspect of her work is the experience of the viewer, which informs the work with its purpose. As you look into the panels that make up "Inner View Deeper," of what does the work make you think? Of what does the experience remind you?
Oregon-based artist Troy Pillow's "Split Circle" introduces a bit of color and movement into the sculpture garden. The spinning discs make this a kinetic sculpture, a work that moves when it interacts with the wind. It's a whimsical work that brings to mind the sculptures of Alexander Calder and the drawings of Dr. Suess. As his title suggests, Pillow splits a circle to create the fundamental structure of this sculpture. What other works in the garden have a similar geometric foundation?
The second work by Troy Pillow in the sculpture garden is "Spartan." In this piece, the artist suggests a tree, with some moveable components that could suggest autumn leaves or fruit. Which way do you see those red elements? As leaves or fruit? Why? The term "Spartan" today means barren, limited and without luxury. How does that term apply to this sculpture? If you compare and contrast "Spartan" and "Split Circle," which seems more sophisticated? Which seems more complex in its meaning? Why?
Dalton sculptor Chris Beck's sculpture "Mrs. Carter," employs a common artistic device of depicting a person by presenting his or her clothes. (Jim Dine's self portraits famously include only a bathrobe.) In this case, the artist has used metal to create the dress and ornamental flower of the woman who is the topic of his sculpture. If you were describing the unseen "Mrs. Carter" in words, what would you tell others about her based on Beck's choice of dress and flower? Do you think that the artist provides enough clues to make this a portrait? If not, what else would you add?
Michael Little's "Roots II" is a segmented steel sculpture, which makes variable installations possible. Just as a tree's roots may grow in unpredictable directions, Little's sculpture allows a curator to position the two sections in many different configurations. Note that many of the segments that comprise the roots are not full circles. Little allows the viewer to see inside the root, which adds a visual dimension to the work but also creates the functionality of movement. Little lives and works in Maryland.
"Rambler" is a complex sculpture with strong organic content that belies its welded steel construction. Though the work is totally stationary, Kevin Shunn has created the sense of potential movement with the work's foot-like projection and the heavy base with root-like steel rods emerging from it. Inside the cage-like mid-section of the sculpture, Shunn originally enclosed a wooden branch, shaping the metal around it. The wood is designed to disintegrate over time, with the exposure to the elements, heightening the sense that the sculpture is undergoing an evolution.
The ability to create works of art from discarded elements is not only a "green" practice but it challenges the artist and the viewers to see those objects in new ways. In "Totem" by Oregon sculptor Aimee Mattila, used tires are stacked and the tread is painted to give them fresh associations. Why might Mattila choose metallic paints for the tires? Look at the tread on other tires to see what inspires those patterns. Mattila tops her stacked tires with a crowning object made from metal strips and household items. Many people think of art as being important and distant. What does a sculpture made of discarded items make you think about the nature of art?
Jordan Phelps grew up at Dalton and studied sculpture at the University of Georgia. His untitled work here in the garden is an example of using welded steel plates to create a work with significant volume but not significant mass because the work is hollow. Phelps doesn't offer viewers a title as means of connecting the viewer with the sculpture. Based on its appearance, what might you title this work? What ideas do you think that Phelps was exploring in creating this work?
California artist Guy Dill has placed work in many North American museums and in many public spaces. "Spreader," Dill's monumental black work here in the sculpture garden, is typical of the artist's work in the mid-1990s. Against a grid, Dill places a number of geometric elements, creating a harmonious arrangement of curves, circles and crescents. Dill encourages the viewers' eyes to follow along the pattern he has created, allowing each person to consider the elements individually and how they work in concert. What other sculpture on the grounds reminds you of Spreader? How do they compare and contrast with one another?
Highly regarded Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi is responsible for a significant body of sculpture that is a part of the 20th century's artistic canon. Widely displayed in museums around the world, the late artist's foundation maintains an exhibition space and sculpture garden in New York City where a representative sampling of his sculptures can be seen.The piece on the Guild's grounds, is made from cement poured into moulds and was originally intended for use in playground installations that Noguchi planned for cities in the US and Japan. The work is comprised of sections, and can be positioned in several ways. Noguchi's balance of natural and industrial forms is a key to his place in art history, and this piece is a fine example of the artist's later work.
The untitled work by Carl Billingsley is representative of the artist's minimalistic style. Billingsley creates work in many mediums, and in his welded steel constructions he seeks to express concepts within an intentionally limited artistic vocabulary. This form's strong vertical inclination and its simple, elegant angles complement the existing surroundings. As with many pieces of this type, there is no "message" or "meaning." The object is simply a construction and can be viewed only as such, with no more meaning--and no less meaning--than utilitarian objects. What other works in the garden have a minimalist appearance?
FROM CONCEPTION TO COMPLETION:
On October 22, 2010 the Creative Arts Guild opened its newly installed Robert Webb Sculpture Garden, a collection of contemporary outdoor artwork. According to the International Sculpture Center website, the collection represents Georgia’s first permanent sculpture garden or park.
The Robert Webb Sculpture Garden contains works by mid-career and internationally acclaimed artists including Michelle Goldstrom-Lanning (Illinois), John Henry (Tennessee), Ryan McCourt (Canada), Royden Mills (Canada), Frank Morbillo (New Mexico), Troy Pillow (Washington state), Caroline Ramersdorfer (Austria), Judith Steinberg (New York), Kyle Van Lusk (North Carolina), William Wareham (California) and Robert Winkler (North Carolina).
Through the generosity of local arts patrons George and Rhenda Spence, a vintage Isamu Noguchi sculpture will also be sited on the Guild’s grounds. Works by Georgia artist Kevin Shunn, Maryland’s Michael Little, Oregon’s Aimee Mattila and Georgia’s Jordan Phelps remain a previous Guild exhibit.
Robert Webb worked on the acquisition of pieces for the sculpture garden for some time which prompted the dedication of the sculpture garden in honor of his many contributions to the Guild in addition to the creation of the sculpture garden.
ABOUT MR. WEBB
Webb is a former three-term chair of the Guild’s board of directors and a current trustee at the institution. He is the founding editor of Emory University’s 20-year-old national literary journal, Lullwater Review, and a widely published poet, essayist and critic. Webb was the 1991 recipient of a Georgia Council for the Arts individual artist grant in poetry and, as an Emory senior, won a Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts as one of the top fifteen student artists in the US. He is a collector of modern and contemporary art and has offered guidance and support to emerging artists throughout the Southeast. Webb currently works as senior director of people and performance at Mohawk Industries and volunteers his time and talents with a number of local non-profits.
In 1993, Webb was instrumental in creating a temporary outdoor sculpture exhibit at the Guild, which was curated by world renowned artist John Henry.The commitment to making the arts accessibility to everyone has been a part of the Guild’s philosophy since it was established in 1963.
The sculpture garden will be free and open to the public every day.
