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Above Image: 2012 Studio Visit: Vector Fabricating – Carnival of Fire.

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My Studio Visits

When I say “My Studio Visits”, I include “Site Visits”, that is the site of casting, fabrication and installation, which may not necessarily be the artist’s studio.  The idea is to get to know the person behind the art, and to learn the process of sculpture making.  In fact, spending time with artists helps me understand much beyond the technical process of sculpture-making, which in itself is a fascinating process. But informal conversations gives me an insight into the origin of an idea, the desire to give a definite shape to an amorphous idea, and the challenges that comes along the way of fruition of an idea. Studio visits help me understand what goes behind the finished piece of art that we see at public places or private enclosures, from the stage of conception to finished product. Then, I try to share my experiences through my blogs and website.

My studio visits started in  March 2010. That is roughly 10 years after my coming to America…  and in all my  coming to America experiences – of all the adjustments, adaptations and learning of new skills required to settle down in a new place in new country – the most unexpected turn of events has been my meeting with sculptors of Chicago.

Now, by 2016, I have written about more than 60 sculptors.  I have met with many more. Although each post is not the best article written about them, but together, in one website, makes for a good documentation of contemporary sculptors in Chicago.

It still boggles me. How did it all began?

I have no background in Fine Arts or photography. My academic background is MA in Economics, and I was a lecturer in Economics at the prestigious NM College in Mumbai, India.

Sometimes I feel, it gives me a unique advantage. I am an outsider, a non-artist, trying to understand the life and work of artists. So I feel am a perfect channel between people who create art, and the outside audience who admire art.

But coming to America, how did I end up meeting with so many sculptors in Chicago, and calling many as friends?

It all began with my photographing downtown Chicago – the art and architecture – as a desire to learn about Chicago. Then, I used organize and share these photos through blogs, which I started in 2006-2007. By 2010, I had made quite a comprehensive list of public art in Chicago. Then at some point, I wanted to learn about the faces behind public art!

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So  began my studio visits. My first Studio Visit was of Terrence Karpowicz on March 8, 2010. I still remember knocking on his studio doors, not knowing what to expect.  I knew he was very talented, and soon learned he was very gracious too!  I had prepared some questions and took down some notes. Perhaps the only time I took down notes. After some time in the studio, he took me to a sculpture tour of Chicago and the day ended with lunch  in Chinatown, at Lao Sze Chaun, which was his then intern Sachiyo Yoshida’s favorite restaurant. Overall a wonderful experience, and gave me confidence to meet with more artists.

Soon I met with many more sculptors.  I saw the process of sculpture making. I saw rough sketches, maquettes, CAD models,  metal pour, steel welding, wood carving, glass blowing. Apart from fabrication of sculptures, I have seen installation, opening ceremonies and even de-installation. I have greatly admired the creativity of artists. I have even made some out-of-town studio visits, like meeting with Preston Jackson in Peoria, Thomas Scarff in Michigan City [Indiana], Ed McCullough in Kankakee, Steve Luecking in Thomson and Bruce White in Dekalb.

 

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Some of my observations:
Sculpture making is an arduous task. It involves many phases including: sketches – maquette – casting /fabrication – assembly – installation. Then there is maintenance – cleaning and sometimes restoring! Some of these stages require high level of technical and engineering expertise.

But more than the process of making sculptures, I admire the vision and metal toughness of the artists. To render something on a piece of paper is one thing. But then, to make it into a three-dimensional object is a whole new ball game. It require a lot of conviction in oneself to invest so much time, money and effort to pursue an artistic vision. And, I believe it is equally challenging to convince someone that their vision is worth investing money in. Making sculptures is a very expensive endeavor.

Also, something about making sculptures – apart from being extremely physically demanding – is an incredibly solitary, as well as an incredibly social activity! Sculptors have to spend a lot of time working alone, when no-one understands how their work will turn up to be. Also at many stages they need assistance from others. So sculpture community is a tight knit – co-operating as well as competing – group of artists.

And then, especially in case of public art, to subject a very personal vision, open to public scrutiny! Words are free! People can be very critical. That’s tough!

When it comes to outdoor public art, there are additional considerations: no sharp points or edges,  and no fragile materials that can be bent, broken, or cause accidents. The piece should have the ability to tolerate vagaries of the weather. In places like Chicago it can be extremely harsh hot and cold conditions, and the piece should withstand corrosion from environmental pressure. Also, the chances of vandalism are always there. People may climb on the piece. The piece should be accessible for maintenance.

 

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Some Highlights:
I am very proud of working with Vector Fabricating in making their website click here.. Vector Fabricating is perhaps the only facility in Chicago that provides a complete range of assistance from conception to completion. Since its inception, the founders realized the importance of having a team of skilled sculptors, who keep themselves abreast with the latest in the sculpture scene in Chicago and beyond. This provides an artist-friendly environment, where clients, who becomes friends of Vector, feel assured that their artistic vision is being understood and followed through.

I am also very proud to be working very closely with the group Chicago Sculpture International [CSI]. Over the years I have covered many of their exhibitions. Some of the sculptors are good friends now.

One my highlights is getting commissions for photo-documentation. There’s nothing like getting paid for something you enjoy doing. I Thank everyone who commissioned me for projects and who bought photos from me.

Sometimes I am amazed at the reach of my website. I take pride in having my photos bought by some museums like Kunstmuseum Basel [Switzerland], Stiftung Jüdisches Museum [Jewish Museum in Berlin] and to get photo published in The Telegraph [London, UK]. Its great to get my photos published in books, magazines, and catalogs.

 

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Some Images from my Studio Visits:

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Year 2015: was a  remarkable year. My studio visits were with Steve Mueller of Vector Fabricating, and in his wife Debbie Mueller also joined in a few. We drove to Thomson to meet with Steve Luecking.  Steve Luecking is a  sculptor par excellence, who also taught art – Computer Graphics and digital media – at  DePaul University, Chicago, IL. I had long wanted to meet him, ever since I saw his sculpture “Upwells”  at University of Illinois Campus in Urbana. This environmental sculpture won design awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects in 1992 and 1995. I was lucky to be able to meet him. Then we met his wife Margaret Lanterman, who is also an artist.. The year ended with another day-trip to Urbana to meet with Cecelia Allen and Roger Blakley, a team of husband-&-wife sculptors, who create individual as well as collaborative work.

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Year 2014: A trip to Urbana to see the Opening Reception of “Amplifiers” by Nicole Beck. A remarkable site-specific piece rooted in the history of the site, of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering [ECE] at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign [UIUC]. Also, in the same building was another opening reception of “Diss-Connections” by John Adduci. Both these sculptures were commissioned by the Capital Development Board “Art-in-Architecture” program to promote and preserve the arts by commissioning works of art for public buildings.

Visited the studio of sculptor Neil Goodman whose abstracts sculptures are inspired by the rugged Midwestern industrial landscape.  Another trip was to the fascinating Cornelia Arts Building [CAB] one of the largest All-Artist studio buildings on Chicago’s Northside. Met with two artists Jason Messinger and Darrell Roberts who have organized their studios in contrasting ways.

Also met with internationally acclaimed artist Chakaia Booker, best known for her work with discarded automobile tires, which she cuts into pieces of varying length, width and shape – and fastens onto wooden or metal armatures. She builds indoor and outdoor sculptures ranging in scale from intimate wall pieces to large public works. Her solo exhibition, “Don’t Tread on Me: Sculpture by Chakaia Booker”consisting of three outdoor pieces opened at Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park at Governors State University.

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Year 2013: Sometimes it is necessary that some time passes by, for one to realize how eventful it was. I met with many sculptors in 2013.. Christine Rojek, John Himmelfarb, Mike Baur, Nicole Beck, Eric W. Stephenson, Barbara Cooper, and Jean Jacques Porret..

One of the highlights was documenting metal pour, when Marshall Svendsen was working on a very interesting project, recasting of a 1938 sculpture “Fountain Group” .. click here.. I will forever be grateful to Marshall Svendsen to help me document the “Lost Wax Method” of metal casting, when he was working on the sculpture “Bulldog and Hydrant”.. click here..

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Year 2012: studio visits were few. I saw Christine Rojek work on Breeze Keeper.. click here...

However, 2012  was a remarkable year.

The biggest highlight of 2012 was that the 23rd International Sculpture Conference [ISC] was held in Chicago in October 2012. The Chicago Sculpture International [CSI] presented the exhibition, “Sculpture Now: Artwork Along The Lake” which involved installed of 64 large-scale outdoor sculptures From Promontory Point in the South to Belmont Harbor in the North. I was commissioned to document these which later got published in a catalog. click here..

Also in 2012, there was exhibition by internationally acclaimed Brazilian artist Denise Milan at Chicago Cultural Center, “Mist of the Earth”, and I was commissioned to document the Opening Reception and the documentation of the exhibition… click here.. Denise Milan, along with Ary Perez are the artists behind “America’s Courtyard”.. click here..

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Year 2011: Perhaps the biggest highlight of 2011, was getting commissioned by the City of Chicago, Department of Tourism and Culture, to photo-document the installation of the sculpture “Runners” by Greek artist Theodoros Papagiannis. This involved multiple visits to the site to photograph the progress of installation. There were four concrete pours, landscaping, cleaning of the sculpture, fundraising events and dedication ceremony and I documented them all … click here..

Also in 2011, took a day-trip to Peoria to see Preston Jackson at work.. click here..

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Year 2010:  was perhaps my most productive year.  My studio visit began with  Terrence Karpowicz. Soon I visited Richard Howard Hunt, sculptor with the most public commissions anywhere in America..  I met with many more people.. Sharon Bladholm, Ruth Migdal, Jennifer Dickson, John Adduci, Ginny Sykes, Preston Jackson, Ed McCullough, Lucy Slivinski, Christine Rojek, and Mike Helbing.

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Of all the artists I have met, one person that truly is the Renaissance Man is Preston Jackson – a painter, sculptor, and a musician, who also practices tai-chi. He is also a teacher. He is professor emeritus of sculpture at the School of the Art Institute [SAIC] in Chicago. As if all these are not enough, he is co-founder of the Contemporary Art Center [CAC] of Peoria, which is a cultural hub featuring exhibitions, artist studios, open mic for poetry, salsa dances, and instruction in art, dance, yoga and tai chi. I visited Preston Jackson studio in Chicago click here.., as well as in Peoria.. click here..

While in Chicago, professor Jackson took me to his sculpture class at SAIC, and I met few of his students, as shown in above image with Jason Christopher Hawk and Eric Gushee. Later I followed-up and met with them in their Red Gate Studio. Below is perhaps one of my all time favorite photo. Red Gate Studio no longer exists, but its artists – Llyod Mandelbaum, Amy Hilber, Eric Gushee, Salvador Dominguez and Jason Hawk – are all on their professional paths. Each one is very talented artist. But somehow its one artist that I could connected with more than others… Jason Hawk. He’s the one who invited me to the studio. Here is my posts on Jason Hawk..click here...

 

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Check Out My Studio Visits: click here..
Know the Artist Series.. click here..

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has spent time with me!

Hopefully, there will be more Studio Visits in coming days..

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Published by Jyoti Srivastava
Image copyright © Jyoti Srivastava

 

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

 

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