WP3: First Draft

A sculpture is just another form of expression. There are so many means of expression, but what makes sculptures so interesting is the fact that they express themselves without words or movement. Therefore, we as an audience are given the opportunity to create our own argument and explanation of what each sculpture is portraying. When we do this, we also are sure to keep in mind the intentions of the author, which we vaguely know from the title.

The sculpture that I have been working with is titled “Arch Falls” and it was sculpted by Bryan Hunt. Bryan Hunt is known as an artist that tends to sculpt “waterfalls that convey effects of rippling, fluid surfaces in solid bronze.” (Sheldon Art Gallery Pamphlet) This sculpture was formed in 1980-81. This sculpture was first originally modeled in plaster. You are able to see how the artist worked the surface with his fingers while the substance was wet.

Some of my initial observations helped me to get started on analyzing this sculpture. The first day of meeting with my sculpture was a bit difficult. I was able to make general observations, but I didn’t feel a deep connection with it. Although they seemed pity at the time, all observations played a part in my analysis. I of course thought it was a waterfall due to the title and overall look. I wasn’t sure on why there was a separation between the two parts of the sculpture though. I thought that the substance showed the curves that the artist worked on to portray water. I also thought that it was located in the right sort of context by being placed outside. I questioned if the bottom of the sculpture was the end of the waterfall or if it indeed continued. I thought the bottom looked kind of clumpy like rocks at the end. Then I thought about the title. I wondered if the “arch” was referring to the curve of the waterfall. I then of course assumed that the “falls” was talking about the waterfall but I also considered an alternative meaning, such as free falling or the freedom of falling that a waterfall peacefully gives off.

Then, we had an interesting class of silence. After attending this class and returning back to our sculptures, I started thinking in a different mindset. When something is silent, it still speaks volumes. Obviously our sculptures are silent figures that can’t explain themselves, but yet they are not left unexplainable. We then took time to view our sculptures in a silent way. What are they trying to express that they can’t without words or movement? This was particularly crucial to analyze with my sculpture because of the fact that a waterfall is a movement.

Next, we looked at our sculptures as an object of intensification. As an object, this sculpture intensifies a waterfall because you are viewing it as a stand still. You are able to look at one snap shot second of a waterfall not moving, which would not be possible in real life. The imprints that create the rippling effect are intensified in this case because you also would not be able to see that as a waterfall would be falling. The sculpture also intensifies the fact that it is an art object. When you are looking at something outside of its complete context (being in a waterfall location, moving, being water colored, etc.) you have to praise the work of art to be able to still visualize the sculpture as an object.

During our next class session, I took my observations to a couple different levels. On this particular day, the sculpture was covered by a shadow from the Sheldon building behind it. The sculpture in a darker light became a lot darker itself and you also were unable to see the details within the sculpture. It really changed the overall look. Without details, it didn’t really resemble a waterfall at all, but rather just some chunks of bronze. The visual hierarchy in this new light was definitely focused on the slit and the middle opening between the two chunks because the light was shining through the dark pieces at that time. One this day of observing, I also thought about how different the sculpture would be if it were in more of a waterfall location? Would it be viewed differently? Would it represent something different? Another aspect I touched on with my observations was that the sculpture has a bumpy sort of feel to it, but yet water is smooth. Visually, this looks correct because it truly does look like water, but texturally with touching it, it is not accurate in the sense that water is smooth. Although, I feel like this is ok because really, sculptures aren’t meant to be touched, but rather observed.

So, after all my observations, the big question is, how can this be viewed as a waterfall, when it is technically everything a waterfall is not? How do all these aspects make this sculpture become the object that it is? With this sculpture, there are a lot of pieces that are opposite of a waterfall, but in the end this sculpture still represents a waterfall. One example being that water is a movement and this sculpture is a stand still. But we think water still. Is it because of the title? Or the contours that for the visual design of water? Or a combination of both? Another piece is that there is no source, it just becomes. Obviously no source is necessary for the sculpture because it is not really water, but visually it just starts out of nowhere. Also, there are two parts to this sculpture. In a waterfall, you usually think of just one heavy flow. But this sculpture is split into two. It could be for the simple reason that it needs to be able to stand up, but you are literally able to walk through this space. With a real waterfall, there are usually rocks that separate the direct path down of a waterfall, but nothing like this space show here in “Arch Falls”. The contrast of the white building behind the dark bronze sculpture really highlights its being. It makes it stand out more than a waterfall would stand out on a mountain or wherever it may be.

Earlier this semester we also examined photographs and comics. I feel like comics had more of an argument and message to them because of the fact that they are able to show more emotion and most include words or a message. I feel like the examination process of photographs and sculptures were most similar because they both are usually without words and neither have a movement to them. I personally felt the sculptures were the hardest to figure out but that was also kind of fun because it was really left up to me and how I saw the sculpture and what I felt it was giving off.

By taking the chance to spend some time with my sculpture, I was able to understand it a little more each time. When I first saw it I was clueless how I was going to be able to make anything of it. I thought everyone else’s sculptures were a lot more detailed and easier to understand, but now I see that my sculpture can do that also. After viewing it blankly, through a silent approach, and as an intensification, I feel I have attacked it at all levels and really came to see that although it may be made up of everything a waterfall is not, it is a waterfall none the less.