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Stainless Steel Sculpture "Chapel" 1983

Abstract Sculpture can fall easily into the term of Modern Sculpture. Modernism is a timeless movement that reduces Forms whether it be Architecture, Furniture, Painting or Sculpture to its simplest reductive element and simply put creates a situation in which “Less is More. Modernism became simplified and broken down to the Cube during the early 1960’s and was referred to as Minimalism with Contemporary Artist Donald Judd at the center of this Contemporary Sculpture Movement. This minimalistic approach was not new to Modernism, it really began around 1928 with Bauhaus Movement centralized in Europe. Minimalist Sculpture posted around the time I started building Outdoor Sculpture in Venice, CA in 1968. Modern Abstract Sculpture was a way of taking a Modern Stance in Monumental Sculpture within a Minimal Format. Splitting Minimal Forms which included all the basic Geometric shapes seemed a relatively obvious direction to move in as Minimal Art broke down Modern Sculpture to its simplest elements for example the Cube. Moving outward into Monumental Abstract Sculpture for the Modern Artist was a valid option other than another direction which was opening up at this time Conceptual Sculpture. I decided to work off a Minimalist Format with Abstraction, creating complex abstract statements with one or two incisions into a minimal form and reconfiguring the parts in opposition. This Abstracting of Minimal Forms was a direction which I liked to refer to as Abstract Minimalism and still feel quite comfortable with that term today. As a Contemporary Artist and son of a Modern Architect I was exposed at a Modern Architecture based on 20 foot cubic elements at a early age. Having been exposed Modern Architecture Minimalism was quite easy for me assimilate. This Modern Abstract Sculpture above I presented in 6 views and is tittled Chapel. It is one form in two scale opposing and reversed within each other. It is a Metal Sculpture in Stainless Steel and was purchased by the McCrory Corporation in New York, known to having the largest collection of Constructivist Sculpture in America. When the owner died the collection was donated to The Metropolitan Museum of Art where the piece is now.

To the Modern Artist Stainless Steel Sculpture is a excellent material for Outdoor Sculpture. It is heavy, hard to work with and expensive but worth the obstacles for its modern look, low maintenance and ability to have great longevity in all environmental climates. The Abstract quality of this Modern Sculpture appeared to have a look similar to a Popes Hat and the form feels to spire upward like a Steeple on a Chapel hence the tittle “Chapel”. As a Contemporary Artist I am totally involved in the disciplines of Modernism and have always used materials inherent to Modern Architecture such as Wood, Steel, Painted Steel, Concrete and my favorite of all Stainless Steel. As the viewer walks around this piece which is actually a Table Top Sculpture it becomes obvious that the Abstract Sculpture appears monumental on a smaller table top scale. This is the key to creating and testing the attributes of a Monumental Sculpture If the Abstract Sculpture has a Monumental Quality on a Table Top Scale it will stand as well on all scales and on any Dimension. The views drastically change in these 6 views I presented, this is one of the qualities I work hard to achieve, having the sculpture change and remain interesting in all 360 degrees. At several angles this Modern Sculpture eclipses itself.. As simple as this sculpture is laying flat, when opened up and reconfigured it becomes evidently more complex, and is the reason I refer to my Modern Contemporary Sculpture as Abstract Minimalism. Its minimal in that I start out with a basic form and split it and when opened up and reconfigured this minimal approach complex and abstracted. Its a great accomplishment to me when I can split a simple form with a couple lines and open it up to create a Abstract Sculpture that functions well from all angles.