Why Horses?
The world is full of reclining nudes and bronze heroes on horseback. The reason? Bodies fascinate us. We are biologically attuned to breasts and buttocks. There’s no need to ask ‘why nude?’ But ‘why horse?’- Maybe. And these sculptures in wire are my reply.
Horses excite fear in some, obsession in others and for both responses the reason is the same. Horses are big and powerful. But they are also sensitive and sensuous. They can kill with a kick and they can shiver away a fly. For the reason we enjoy Baryshnikov in tights we enjoy watching show jumping, performing Lipizzans and racehorses paraded to the starting gate. Power and grace are an irresistible combination. Horse’s muscles ripple on the surface. They are beautiful in form and thrilling in actual and potential energy.
I am infinitely attracted to the form of a horse. And thanks to the work of Alexander Calder I discovered that I enjoy expressing shape in wire. Working in wire is like drawing in 3-D. Wire enables me to describe form as much by what isn’t there as by what is.
In making these pieces I always begin with shaping the head. This is where the character of the individual reveals itself to me. I don’t follow any blueprint. Once the head has come into being one decision leads to the next. Each sculpture is composed of a series of decisions and for each horse the series is distinctly different. The sculpture is complete when it asserts its full identity and independence even when I’m not expecting it.
* Commissions welcomed, be it equine or otherwise!
