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Continuing with my studio visits of Contemporary Sculptors of Chicago..

Sculptor Barry Hehemann, working at Vector Custom Fabricating

Barry Hehemann is a very well known name in the sculptor community of Chicago.  Like some of his contemporary sculptors of Chicago – Mike Baur and Neil Goodman –  who started fabricating sculptures in about the 1980s; his work is also influenced of the rugged Midwestern landscape, with massive factories, bridges, ships and barges as the outstanding visible features of the area.  However, it is very interesting that while they were all  inspired by the same rugged terrain; each one of them evolved a very different artistic vision.  Neil Goodman works with bronze, and his style can be described as lyrical with rhythm and flow as distinguishing features. Mike Baur works with found materials like steel, wood, stones and his work is more brawny with stability and balance as key traits.  And Barry Hehemann works with construction materials like granite, steel, pipes and concrete and his work have appeal of a manufacturing or engineering project.

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Barry Hehemann received his BFA in sculpture from Herron School of Art from Purdue University in Indianapolis in 1975, and MFA from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in 1977. Soon after completing his MFA, Hehemann, along with two of his friends Steve Mueller and Mike Wilkie founder the Vector Custom Fabricating in 1977. Vector Fabricating is an architectural metals and sculpture fabricating company, providing wide ranging services like design, drafting, 3D modeling, structural engineering, fabricating, finishing, installation and conservation. Being a fabricating company, Vector has been instrumental in making many artworks, and Hehemann, by the virtue of working in this company has been directly or indirectly involved in the making of many sculptures that are in public realm or private collection. But other than helping his clients visualize their creative vision; he also pursues his own artistic aspirations, and makes sculptures – with the beauty of rugged industrial grit – that have been exhibited throughout the country.

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For more images of the fabrication of Halettelujah, click here..

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SCULPTURAL BENCH SERIES:  Barry Hehemann has fabricated a series of 10 benches in his signature muscular-brawny-rugged style, made with granite, stone, steel and concrete. Two of them – “Shark Bench” and  “Throne for King” – can be seen in Bronzeville, which were commissioned as part of  King Drive Restoration Project of the City of Chicago.. click here...

Check out Sculptural Bench Series by Barry Hehemann.. click here..

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Vector fabricating hosts a very popular annual event  “Pig Roast and Carnival of Fire”.  it is attended by everyone who is anyone in the sculpture community of Chicago. Last year, in 2013, Vector Fabricating celebrated its 35th Anniversary of being in business. The year coincided with Barry Hehemann 60th birthday anniversary..  click here..  I learnt a little known trivia about Hehemann that day. He is most lovingly nicknamed “Weld-A-Man”, by his family and friends!

 

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Thank You Barry Hehemann for enriching the Chicago artistic community with your hard-work, vision and talent!

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SCULPTURES by BARRY HEHEMANN

 

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RELATED LINKS:
Studio Visits: click here..
Know the Artists series.. click here..

 

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