A Presence in the Woods
“People used to find gods in the woods,
some still do.”
-artist Jay Walker
While over the years, the sculpture at Abington Art Center has highlighted the forces and materials found in nature, the human element comes to the forefront in the newest selections added to the Sculpture Park in 2010.
Detail of “Tree Creatures” by Richard Metz
Richard Metz has been perfecting his form of eco-graffiti in the local woods for several years as a way to express his relationship with nature and the universe at large. Created using egg and natural pigments made from plants and minerals, the paintings are intended to be a fleeting gift – a surprise to those who unexpectedly come upon them. Metz’s “Tree Creatures” are based on leaf shapes found in the area and harken back to a time when man lived in harmony with nature and regularly paid tribute to its wonders. Visit again during the summer and fall to see if you can find new tree creatures. These paintings will fade and new creatures may appear unannounced.
“Wall of Doubt” by Doug Mott of WoMo Art
Doug Mott, part of the WoMo Art team, is interested in using metaphor and compelling compositions to transcend the material nature of a given piece. Using bits of steel, a recycled bedspring, common hardware and concrete block, his “Wall of Doubt” has become an animated cacophony of voices that will not be ignored. You, as viewer, supply the dialogue so beware of your frame of mind. For Mott, the piece also refers to the inner voices an artist hears as s/he is making choices in creating a work of art. For the artist, once the work was completed, the “naysayers” went silent. WoMo Art is the artistic team of sculptors Maryann Worrell and Doug Mott.
Jay Walker’s “Wait Upon” transforms the remains of what was the oldest tree in the Sculpture Park to uncover two monumental figures. Their scale evokes power and the half-seen emerging faces offer mystery – two elements rich with opportunities for storytelling in the tradition of epic poetry and mythology.These works offer a new context to some of our older favorites the Sculpture Park, renewing their voices in paying homage, not only to the natural world, but to our aspirations for ourselves as humans. Enjoy!
