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Artist of the Week!
April 2008, week 4
Read the complete story in the January 2008 issue of The Community Arts Cafe. Get artist's profiles and valuable community arts information each month in The Community Arts Cafe magazine!
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Story by Jaime Coggins
"The impact of my work has been enriched by my exploration of metal casting. This exploration has led to the development of techniques beyond traditional casting practices and allowed for more direct manipulation of form and space. Ultimately, my intention is to capture and convey to the viewer the same elements of surprise and discovery that drive me to make sculpture"
Occasionally the artist will cast a direct representation of an organism in its own element. Taking the studio to a group of fungi growing under the a tree, Jon pours the plaster mold directly onto the collection of mushrooms to preserve the form of their natural development. Then, through a form of investment casting, the organic fibers will be burned out of the shell to be filled with molten metal. What remains is a preservation and homage to growth and life that will last much longer than the organisms in their original state.
Metal casting is only one of the transformation processes used in creating these original works. Jon Ray Smith works with materials ranging from industrial grade steel, bronze, iron and aluminum to more fragile and mass produced materials such as dime store beach umbrellas, plastic figurines, pins and rubber bands....
The oversized knot in a tree, the prism detail of a tidal wave, vast conical western landscapes and bulbous, organic formations of plant life are a few of natural inspirations present in the cast sculptures of Jon Ray Smith.
