August is when the games of summer are played most fervently, with the whisper of fall right around the corner. Soon, summer will give way to school starting, schedules filling up, and routines setting into motion. As a teacher, I am trying to play hard, stay up late, and swim as much as possible this month. Giving room for August to be what it needs to be, I am pulling from previous posts to create a Rock, Paper, Scissors theme. I hope you enjoy! Let’s begin with Rock!
See
DEDO DE DIOS (Finger of God), 2023, José Manuel Castro López
Spanish sculptor José Manuel Castro López hand-carves granite and quartz into fascinating, fluid sculptures. Aiming to formulate new relationships with sculptural work, his illusory objects are a captivating study into the malleable nature of minerals.
Barbara Hepworth, Epidauros II 1961
“My studio was a jumble of children, rocks, sculptures, trees, importunate flowers, and washing.”-Barbara Hepworth
She often wrote about how being a mother and an artist was never a conflicting process, and that having a family actually improved the quality of her sculptures. (Sartle)
Jade Mountain Illustrating the Gathering of Scholars at the Lanting Pavilion, 1790. It is the largest piece of historic carved jade outside of China. Interestingly, it depicts a gathering of literary scholars playing a creative drinking game.
Oh my darling, it's true. Beautiful things have dents and scratches too.
-unknown
Gyoia (Metamorphosis), Massimiliano Pelletti
Gyoia (Metamorphosis), 2019, White Marble, 66 9/10 × 19 7/10 × 19 7/10 in
Massimiliano Pelletti’s deceptively ancient-looking contemporary sculptures are eroded and pock-marked, denying the perfection we might expect from classically idealized figures. For example, his Venus (2014) is so perforated that she barely retains any facial features, with only the goddess’s stony material and silhouette hinting at her past glory. (Artsy.net)
David, Michelangelo, 1501-1504
“Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the task of the artist to discover it.”- Michelangelo
Say
In what ways do the natural imperfections in the rock contribute to the uniqueness of each sculpture, and how might these imperfections challenge the artist's original vision?
How does the durability and permanence of rock sculpture affect the artist's approach to creating it, knowing that it could potentially last for centuries?
What role does scale play in rock sculpture? How do the size and weight of a piece impact its presence and the viewer's experience?
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Do
I realized that the art of living well — like sculpting — is a process of subtracting clutter and revealing purpose. Juliana Paradisi
By contemplating the role of subtraction, you may gain insights into how the process of removing or letting go can lead to a clearer, more focused, and meaningful life, much like the creation of a beautiful sculpture from a block of stone.
Journal examples of how subtracting (tasks, clutter, obligations) has brought more clarity and purpose to your life?
What might letting go of something reveal to you? List 5 things you might consider letting go of?
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