- Totems...
The collection of sculptures to be presented at Pucci in May came from several inspirational directions. Initially, there were the connections I have always felt with tribal art, in particular, totems from Africa and North America. Although my pieces are more crisply produced on a massive industrial lathe, they are clearly influenced by primitive art. There are also the contemporary western artists, who have worked with totems, that I have a connection with, most notably Brancusi.
The four pieces to be presented range in size from five feet tall to seven feet tall, and are made from cherry and walnut logs collected from the area near my studio in upstate New York. There are clear references to the human body, but my main interest was in the overall shapes and combinations of shapes. The totems can be reproduced in limited runs, but I am also hoping this will lead to custom projects that will push the process further and in new directions.
